Two Israeli warplanes fly over Beirut in violation of Resolution 1701

Israeli warplanes flew over the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday, a day after an attack by a Palestinian gunman killed eight Jewish seminary students in Jerusalem, raising tensions in the volatile region.

"Two Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace and flew over Beirut briefly before leaving the area," a senior Lebanese security official said. Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give official statements, he said the planes flew at a "medium altitude." The official did not elaborate and the Israeli military said it knew of no activity in Beirut.

Israeli warplanes frequently fly over South Lebanon in violation of UN Resolution 1701, which brought about a cessation of hostilities after the 2006 war with Israel.

The overflights have drawn ground fire from Lebanese troops on at least two occasions since the UN resolution was adopted on August 14, 2006.

Israeli aircraft have occasionally flown over the capital Beirut as well.

Three Israeli reconnaissance planes violated Lebanese airspace in South Lebanon Thursday, the Lebanese Army said in a statement Friday.

The latest Israeli overflights come amid tensions over Thursday's attack in Jerusalem at a rabbinical seminary that killed eight students.

Hizbullah's Al-Manar satellite television station said a previously unknown group called the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh and Gaza was responsible for the attack - a claim that could not immediately be verified.

Mughniyeh, a senior Hizbullah commander, was assassinated in a car bomb in Damascus last month.

Hizbullah has blamed Israel for Mughniyeh's killing and has vowed retaliation. More