Israeli military planes pounded a Lebanese village near the Lebanon-Syria border on Friday, causing heavy casualties, local media reported.

The reports cited police sources as saying that Israeli aircraft struck the northeastern Lebanese village of Qaa, which is near Lebanon's border with Syria.

At least 20 farm workers on a farm were killed and many others wounded in the Israeli airstrike, said the reports, adding that the number of casualties could rise further.

Earlier in the day, Israel launched intense airstrikes on southern Beirut and destroyed four bridges north of the Lebanese capital.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said that over 900 Lebanese were killed and 3,000 others wounded in the massive Israeli offensive which was launched on July 12 following the abduction of two Israeli soldiers by Lebanon's Hezbollah guerillas.

Over 70 Israelis have also been killed in the 24 days of fighting.