Israeli aircraft resumed bombardment on Hezbollah's stronghold in a southern suburb of Beirut early today, witnesses said.

They said that they heard at least four loud explosions.

There was no immediate report of casualty.

The southern outskirts of Beirut has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli aircraft since a conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah erupted three weeks ago.

On Wednesday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said that a unilateral ceasefire with Hezbollah was out of the question.

He said that the Israeli army would consider airstrikes deep inside Lebanon including Beirut.

On July 12, Israel launched attacks on Hezbollah after the Shiite group abducted two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid.