BEIRUT, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed on Wednesday in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, the official National News Agency (NNA) reported.
According to the NNA, Israeli airstrikes killed five people in the towns of Maarakeh and Qlaileh in the city of Tyre, killed one person, and injured another in the town of Ibl al-Saqi in Marjeyoun district.
In addition, Israeli raids led to three deaths in the village of Zefta, three deaths in the town of Ain Qana, and four deaths in the village of Habbouch, the NNA said.
Lebanese military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes launched 21 airstrikes on 18 towns and villages in southern Lebanon, while Israeli artillery shelled 12 border towns and villages with about 50 shells.
According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since the beginning of the war on Oct. 8, 2023, reached 3,558, while injuries went up to 15,123.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced in separate statements on Wednesday that its members targeted with rockets and drones several Israeli sites in northern Israel, including the Shraga base, a logistics base for the 146th Division, and the cities of Acre and Safed, without mentioning the casualties.
Hezbollah also claimed that until Tuesday, it has killed 110 Israeli soldiers, wounded 1,050 others, and destroyed 48 Merkava tanks and nine bulldozers, among other military equipment and vehicles.
The Israeli army has not commented on this.
Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its air attack on Lebanon in an escalation of conflict with Hezbollah. Israel further initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon in early October. ■
