Beirut: Israeli airstrikes intensified across southern Lebanon, resulting in at least 20 fatalities and 61 injuries since Wednesday after targeting around 30 towns, according to Lebanese officials and local sources.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Health Ministry reported early Thursday that airstrikes on the towns of Bissariyeh and Harouf claimed the lives of five people and injured nine others. In the Sidon district, a strike on Adloun resulted in four deaths and one injury, while an attack on an apartment in the Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp led to two deaths and four injuries, as reported by Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA).

In Nabatieh, a strike on Habboush resulted in three deaths and 18 injuries, while additional strikes impacted Harouf, Arnoun, Doueir, Al Sharqiya, and Arabsalim. In Tyre, a strike on the al-Alam roundabout wounded 24 individuals, and surrounding towns including Qlaileh, Majdal Zoun, Debel, and Batouliyeh were also targeted.

In the Bint Jbeil district, strikes hit Yatar, Kafra, Burj Qalawiya, and Rshaf, with artillery shelling targeting the outskirts of Shaqra, Srebbine, Aita al-Jabal, Kherbet Selem, and Haris. The Health Ministry reported that an Israeli strike on Kounine in Bint Jbeil killed three people and injured four others.

In the Marjayoun district, airstrikes targeted Khiam, including its al-Jabal neighborhood, as well as Froun. Local sources indicated a strike on a house in Batouliyeh killed one person and wounded another, while another strike between Zawtar al-Sharqiya and Zawtar al-Gharbiya resulted in two deaths. A strike also hit a fuel station at the eastern entrance of Doueir, with civil defense crews working to extinguish the fire into the early morning hours.

Israel has intensified its airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon following a cross-border attack by the Hezbollah group on March 2. Lebanese authorities report at least 1,094 fatalities and 3,119 injuries in Israeli attacks since that date. The escalation comes amid a joint US-Israeli offensive on Iran, which has resulted in more than 1,340 deaths since February 28. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and other countries, stating that these actions are aimed at US military assets.