Smoke billowed Oct. 22 over Baabda, Lebanon, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.

The Israeli military hit bank branches across Lebanon overnight to target Hezbollah‘s finances, expanding its offensive in an assault that sparked panic as the United States launched a new push for a diplomatic solution to the intensifying regional conflict.

The escalation of Israel’s war against the militant group came as rescuers searched for dead and wounded after a devastating Israeli strike in northern Gaza. The aftermath of an overnight Israeli strike. Matthew Mpoke Bigg Mike Ives and Raja Abdulrahim The Israeli military conducted a wave of airstrikes across Lebanon on Sunday, targeting branches of Al-Qard al-Hasan, a financial association associated with Hezbollah. The association operates as a lender and financial services provider for civilians in many areas of Lebanon, where the traditional banking sector is in shambles. Many of its branches are situated on the ground floors of residential buildings. Israel warned people living near Al-Qard al-Hasan branches to evacuate, prompting many to flee. In a statement ahead of the strikes, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, said the alternative banking system is “being used to finance Hezbollah’s terror activities.” Al-Qard al-Hasan was placed under U.S. sanctions in 2007 for operating as Hezbollah’s de facto banking arm. Earlier on Saturday, Israeli jets bombed a Hezbollah stronghold near the Lebanese capital, a day after a drone struck a building near the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, in what Mr. Netanyahu said was an assassination attempt by Hezbollah. The attacks came as Israel continued its renewed assault in northern Gaza against Hamas. Rescue workers in northern Gaza were searching for survivors on Sunday after a major overnight Israeli airstrike that Palestinian officials said killed or wounded dozens of people in the town of Beit Lahia.

The Israeli Defense Forces began conducting airstrikes in Lebanon on Sunday targeting financial institutions linked to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli military launched airstrikes on branches of a bank in Lebanon that the U.S. and Israel have linked to Hezbollah, escalating its military campaign to strike institutions that are part of the group’s far-reaching network of economic and social influence.

By Amina Ismail and Nidal al-Mughrabi BEIRUT/CAIRO (Reuters) -Hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes late on Sunday after Israel said it was preparing attacks on sites linked to the financial operations of Lebanon's Hezbollah group within hours and told people to leave those areas immediately.