Israeli media say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted his government was behind a series of explosions of hand-held communication devices across Lebanon in September.

Israeli media say he made the acknowledgement at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday. It was reportedly the first time the Israeli government has admitted its involvement in the operation, which targeted members of the Lebanese Shia Muslim group, Hezbollah.

In September, pagers and other communication devices detonated across Lebanon, leaving about 40 people dead and over 3,400 others injured. Hezbollah said some of its members were killed.

Netanyahu reportedly said the operation and the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah "were launched despite the opposition of senior officials in the security establishment and the political echelon that oversees them."

France's AFP news service and other media also reported that Netanyahu confirmed he "greenlighted" the pager operation.

Israel is conducting airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. It is also continuing a ground offensive in the country's south.

An Israeli airstrike in central Lebanon on Sunday killed 23 people, including seven children. The death toll from Israeli attacks in the country has surpassed 3,000 since October last year.