The Lebanese group Hizbollah has accused Israel of carrying out a failed attempt to kill one of its officials and has vowed to do "what is necessary" to defend itself.
"We blame the Zionist enemy for planning and executing this attack," a Hizbollah statement said after a blast destroyed the car of Hussein Assaf.
"The Islamic Resistance [Hizbollah's military wing] will bear its responsibility ... and do what is necessary to defend its people...," the statement said.
Mr Assaf and a bodyguard had left the car seconds before it exploded. They were entering the house of senior Hizbollah leader Sheikh Mohammad Yazbek in the ancient town of Baalbek, a Hizbollah stronghold. Neither man was injured.
Israeli officials denied any Israeli military involvement.
Hizbollah, backed by Syria and Iran, have in recent years accused Israel of responsibility for the killing of two of its officials in similar attacks.
Israel has also denied any roles in those killings. Hizbollah guerrilla attacks were a factor behind Israel's decision to pull its troops from south Lebanon in 2000, ending 22 years of occupation.