Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International airport has been closed after Israeli warplanes hit the runway early Thursday morning. According to news wire sources, shells aimed at the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital hit the airport.

A shell hit the eastern runway—one of three the airport has early Thursday morning. A number of planes were diverted to Larnaca in Cyprus.

The airpiort in Beirut is the country’s only international facility.

Israel now intends to impose a sea and air blockade on Lebanon reported Israeli Army Radio and the Associated Press—having quoted a senior military official.
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