Israel says Beirut strike targeted Hezbollah store of 'precision-guided missiles'

"Under the instruction of Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, the (military) has strongly attacked infrastructure in Beirut where Hezbollah's precision-guided missiles were stored," a statement from Netanyahu's office said.

In a separate statement, the military said it hit the site in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah.

"The storage of missiles in this infrastructure site constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon, and poses a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians," the military said.

Netanyahu's office said Israel "will not allow Hezbollah to grow stronger and create any threat against it -- anywhere in Lebanon".

"The Dahiyeh neighbourhood in Beirut will not serve as a safe haven for the terrorist organisation Hezbollah.

"The Lebanese government bears direct responsibility for preventing these threats," it added.

The Lebanese president condemned the strike on south Beirut and called on France and the United States to assume their responsibilities as guarantors of the fragile November 27 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to compel Israel to "halt its attacks immediately".