Israeli fighter jets struck dozens of targets in Beirut and other areas of southern Lebanon overnight, including branches of a bank accused of holding funds used by Hezbollah.

Al-Qard al-Hassan is a Hezbollah unit that's used to pay operatives and help buy arms, a senior Israeli intelligence official said.

Hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes late on Sunday after Israel said it was preparing attacks on sites linked to the financial operations of Hezbollah and told people to leave those areas of Lebanon's capital immediately.