Laila Bassam

Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah ministers and Muslim Shi'ite allies in the Lebanese cabinet have withdrawn from a cabinet meeting on Thursday in protest at discussions on a proposal to disarm Hezbollah, three Lebanese political sources told Reuters.

The United States has presented Lebanon with a proposal for disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year, along with ending Israel's military operations in the country and the withdrawal of its troops from five positions in south Lebanon, according to a copy of a Lebanese cabinet agenda reviewed by Reuters.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem threatened Israel directly for the first time in months in a televised speech on Tuesday, saying missiles would fall on it if it resumed a broad war on Lebanon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stepped up his calls for Hezbollah to disarm on Thursday, suggesting failure to do so would give Israel an excuse to continue attacks and saying the issue would be on the agenda of a cabinet meeting next week.

The group began a major strategic review in the wake of its devastating war with Israel.

Reuters video showed smoke billowing from the area after the first strikes on the Hezbollah stronghold in over a month.

Amidst the rubble left by Israeli bombardment of south Lebanon, campaign posters urge support for Hezbollah in elections on Saturday as the group aims to show it retains political clout despite the pounding it took in last year's war.

Lebanon passes banking secrecy law in third attempt to meet IMF demands

A Lebanese judge published a new court decision in the charges against former central bank chief Riad Salameh for embezzlement of public funds, according to a copy of the decision seen by Reuters on Tuesday, paving the way for an indictment.

The strike further tests a shaky ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.