Lebanon’s parliament elected army commander General Michel Suleiman as president today in a long-delayed vote that was a key step toward restoring political stability.

Israeli warplanes staged a series of raids in northern, eastern and southern Lebanon early today, targeting suspected Hezbollah hideouts, striking a Lebanese army base and destroying roads, Lebanese security officials said.

Hezbollah dealt Israel its heaviest losses yet in the current campaign, killing nine soldiers in fierce firefights.