Israel widens air strikes after Tel Aviv targeted

Hezbollah ballistic missile said to be aimed at Mossad HQ intercepted by air defences

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Israel widened its air strikes in Lebanon on Sept 25 after shooting down the first missile fired by the militant group Hezbollah at Tel Aviv.

Hezbollah said it fired a ballistic missile targeting the headquarters of Israel's spy agency Mossad.

"The Islamic Resistance launched a 'Qader 1' ballistic missile at 6.30am on (Sept 25)... targeting the Mossad headquarters in the outskirts of Tel Aviv," Hezbollah said in a statement.

"This headquarters is responsible for the assassination of leaders and the explosion of pagers and wireless devices," the Iran-backed group added, referring to attacks last week that killed scores in Lebanon, including one of Hezbollah's top commanders.

The Israeli military said it was the "first time ever" a missile fired by Hezbollah reached the Tel Aviv area before being intercepted by air defences.

The White House said the missile strike on Tel Aviv was "deeply concerning", but that a diplomatic off-ramp remains to avoid an "allout war".

"It's certainly deeply concerning, obviously to the Israelis, of course, but also to us," White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN.