Israeli warplanes have been staging mock raids over Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs, this morning, in an unusual show of force. 

Eyewitnesses say that Israeli warplanes repeatedly zoomed low over Beirut's southern suburbs, Tuesday, in several simulated attacks.

Voice of Lebanon radio also reports that Israeli jets broke the sound barrier, causing sonic booms over the port cities Sidon and Tyre.

Lebanon's LBC TV reports that many residents of the Hezbollah stronghold panicked.  Vehicles fleeing in all directions and pedestrians ducked for cover.  Beirut's mostly Shiite suburbs were devastated during the Israeli
bombing campaign, earlier this year.

 United Nations observers say that half a dozen Israeli jets entered Lebanese airspace, coming in from northern Israel.

The United Nations has repeatedly asked Israel to stop violating Lebanese air space.  The French general in charge of U.N. peacekeeping troops was reported to have threatened to fire at Israeli planes overflying Lebanon.

A U.N. spokesman later denied that any threat had been made.

The German government, which has naval vessels patrolling Lebanese waters, also reported incidents with Israeli planes, last week.