Nepal, Jan. 6 -- Heavy fire from Lebanon targeted northern Israel on Saturday, the Israeli military said, adding it had responded by striking a "terrorist cell" that took part in the attack, as top US and European diplomats sought to stop spillover from the Gaza war.

Shortly after rocket sirens sounded across northern Israel, the military said that "approximately 40 launches from Lebanon toward the area of Meron in northern Israel were identified".

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Powerful Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said it hit a key Israeli observation post early on Saturday with 62 rockets as a "preliminary response" to the killing of Hamas' deputy chief earlier this week.

Tensions have been high since Ha...