Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet at the weekend that he had approved the attack on Hezbollah's communications devices in September. It is considered the first explicit Israeli claim of responsibility.

L ebanon-based militant group Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets into northern Israel on Monday, a day after Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, acknowledged his country was behind September's pager attack on the group in Beirut, saying he approved the operation.

The admission comes as Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said there has been some progress in Lebanon ceasefire talks.