In two successive swoops, the planes fired three missiles at an area outside the village of Ziqbin, seven kilometres (4.5 miles) east of the port city of Tyre, the sources said.

In Jerusalem, Israeli military sources said the raid targeted positions of the Shiite Muslim militia Hezbollah.

The raid was in an apparent retaliation after Hezbollah fired across the border into Israel earlier Wednesday near the town of Kiryat Shmona. The attack with anti-aircraft artillery set fire to a wooded area but caused no casualties.

The Hezbollah attack came shortly after Israeli warplanes overflew southern Lebanon, drawing anti-aircraft fire from the militia.

WAR.WIRE