Israel should extend its border with Lebanon up to the Litani River deep inside the country's south, Israel's finance minister said on Monday as Israeli troops bombed bridges and destroyed homes in the area in an escalating military assault.

Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets over parts of the Lebanese capital on Friday carrying messages urging citizens to push for the disarmament of Hezbollah, dpa reporters and residents witnessed.

An Israeli airstrike hit Beirut's Bachoura neighbourhood in the centre of the city on Wednesday, a Reuters witness said, with a loud explosion heard in the area after the Israeli military warned residents to evacuate a building ahead of the strike.

By Nazih Osseiran and Emilie Madi March 19 (Reuters) - Lebanese food courier Hamza Hareb now keeps his distance if he spots a car with tinted windows while on a delivery run in Beirut. Hezbollah is rumoured to use such cars,

Israeli airstrikes hit a building twice in central Beirut less than a kilometre from the government headquarters, Reuters video footage showed on Thursday, shortly after

By Parisa Hafezi, Alexander Cornwell and Maya Gebeily DUBAI/TEL AVIV/BEIRUT, March 18 (Reuters) - Israeli warplanes hit central Beirut in the early hours of Wednesday, destroying apartment buildings

March 11 (Reuters) - Israeli strikes targeted an apartment building in central Beirut on Wednesday, Lebanese state media said, marking the second strike in the city in recent days. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military and no immediate reports of casualties.

The Israeli military widened its attacks to the districts in the center of the Lebanese capital, destroying buildings, forcing residents to flee and killing at least 10.

Israel's military says it targeted Quds Force operatives after a return to war with Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, but Iran says they were diplomats.