Israel conducts "targeted strike" in Beirut despite U.S. warning against escalation after pagers explode

The Israeli military said it carried out a "targeted strike" in Beirut on Friday, as social media video showed smoke rising from the site of an apparent attack in the Lebanese capital.

"At this moment, there are no changes in the Home Front Command defensive guidelines," the Israel Defence Forces said in a statement.

The White House earlier warned both Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group against "escalation of any kind" following this week's synchronized pager and walkie talkie explosions targeting Hezbollah members, but overnight, Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of strikes across southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah has continued firing back.