Israel launched airstrikes into Lebanon on Sunday, saying it had thwarted a large-scale Hezbollah attack while the Lebanese group said it had carried out its own raid to avenge a top commander's killing.

The Israeli military said it had thwarted a much larger attack with preemptive strikes after it assessed that Hezbollah was preparing to launch the barrage.

Sunday's violence was among the biggest exchanges of fire since hostilities began between Israel and Hezbollah in parallel with the eruption of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.