Israeli planes attack Palestinian base

Israeli warplanes attacked Palestinian militants south of Beirut, Lebanese security officials said tonight.

In Jerusalem, the Israeli military confirmed an airstrike near the Lebanese capital.

Lebanese officials said the Israeli planes fired at least four rockets at targets in the hills at Naameh, about five miles south of Beirut. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Palestinian guerrillas of the Syrian-backed Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command maintain an underground base in the Naameh hills.

The Israeli army said the action near Beirut today was in retaliation for earlier missile fire at an Israeli naval vessel.