BEIRUT, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes on Thursday bombed runways at Beirut international airport, which was then closed to traffic, security sources said.

    There were at least two raids on an eastern runway by the planes, which were confronted by anti-aircraft machine guns belonging to the Lebanese army.

An Israeli artillery unit fires across the border into southern Lebanon from a position on the frontier in Zaura, northern Israel , Wednesday, July 12, 2006. Hezbollah fighters launched a raid into Israel and captured two Israeli soldiers Wednesday, triggering an Israeli assault with warplanes, gunboats and ground troops in southern Lebanon to hunt for the captives. Seven Israeli soldiers and two Lebanese were killed in the violence. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Lebanese civilians run to escape the Israeli airstrikes in Zahrani, in southern Lebanon, July 12, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    The airport closed until further notice and at least two flights had to be diverted to airports in the Middle East, said airport sources.

    In Jerusalem, an Israeli army spokesman confirmed that Israeli aircraft carried out attacks on Beirut's international airport on Thursday.

    In a related development, 27 Lebanese civilians, including 10 children, were killed and 20 others were injured in Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon early Thursday, police said.

    Israel's military action started after the capture of its two soldiers by the Lebanese militia group Hezbollah (or Party of God)on Wednesday morning in a border operation. Enditem

Special report: Clash between Israel, Lebanon