Thursday, August 3 2006 13:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beirut: Israeli jets early today (Aug 3, 2006) resumed their air strikes on southern Beirut, aiming at a hotbed of Hezbollah.

The sounds of loud explosions echoed throughout the capital as Israeli jets raided the Beir al Abed and Haret Hriek neighbourhoods inside the southern suburbs.

They were the first strikes into the southern suburbs since Israel agreed to suspend its air strikes for 48 hours on Sunday.

According to Lebanese police, the jets targeted the area of what used to be called "Hezbollah's security square," he said.

People have fled the suburbs since Israel started its massive onslaught on Lebanon on July 12.

CNN, broadcasting live from southern Beirut, recorded at least four explosions hitting southern Beirut over about 30 minutes.