Hamas leader killed? VIDEO

Citing an unnamed Israeli official, the portal stated that Shaheen was the target of the attack because he was allegedly preparing an attack on Israelis.

Videos circulating on social media show a car burning near a Lebanese army checkpoint and a sports stadium in Sidon.

The AP reports that this is Israel's deepest attack on Lebanon since Hezbollah and Israel reached a cease-fire agreement that came into force at the end of November.

The strike came a day before the deadline for Israel's full withdrawal from southern Lebanon under the same accord.

The original deadline for the withdrawal of the Israeli army was at the end of January, but under pressure from Israel, Lebanon extended the deadline until February 18.

Despite the signing of the ceasefire agreement, Israel continued to carry out airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, saying it was targeting "military sites with rockets and combat equipment".