Israeli warplanes break sound barrier over Beirut

An Israeli warplane broke the sound barrier over Beirut on Friday morning, state media said, as AFP journalists heard loud booms reverberate across the city and in distant mountains.

Lebanon's official National News Agency said "a strong sonic boom, in two successive waves, shook the skies over Beirut and its suburbs" on the morning of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Ramadan fasting period.

The incident set social media abuzz.

"On a day without shelling -- so far -- the Israelis are greeting the people of Beirut and its suburbs with two sonic booms," one internet user, Salah Halawi, wrote on X.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel after the killing of the Islamic republic's supreme leader.

Last week Israeli warplanes also caused loud booms in the skies of the Lebanese capital, as they dropped propaganda leaflets on the city, terrifying residents.