Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, April 24

JERUSALEM -- Israel's military announced that its warplanes and artillery struck about 40 sites in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, claiming they had been used by Hezbollah.

An Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement that the strikes were carried out in the area of Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah targets including storage facilities, weaponry, and infrastructures. (Israel-Lebanon-Ties