Diplomats and other officials say there have been several sticking points in ceasefire talks in the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, even as conditions for an agreement appear to be ripe.

The exchange of fire underscores a pattern of escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, with Hezbollah explicitly stating that its rocket attacks were a direct response to the Israeli strikes on Beirut. They claimed to have targeted specific military installations in Tel Aviv, although the Israeli military refused to confirm or deny the claims.

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement fired heavy rocket barrages at Israel on Sunday, and the Israeli military said houses had been destroyed or set alight near Tel Aviv, after a powerful Israeli airstrike killed at least 29 people in Beirut the day before.