By Amina Ismail, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Laila Bassam BEIRUT/CAIRO (Reuters) -Hundreds of Beirut residents fled their homes late on Sunday with multiple explosions heard across the Lebanese capital, as Israel prepared to attack sites linked to the financial operations of Lebanon's Hezbollah group and told people to leave those areas immediately.

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.

The Israeli Defense Forces is expected to conduct airstrikes in Lebanon targeting financial institutions linked to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

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.