UPDATE - 1 killed, 15 injured as Israeli jets strike residential apartment in southern Beirut

UPDATES DEATH TOLL, ADDS CHANGES

By Naim Berjawi

BEIRUT (AA) – At least one person was killed and 15 others were injured on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburb of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, the Health Ministry said.

The Israeli strike targeted a residential apartment in Galerie Semaan neighborhood in southern Beirut, a ministry statement said.

Israel has escalated its air campaign in Lebanon since late September against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from year-long cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 2,900 people have been killed and more than 13,000 injured in Israeli attacks since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Israel expanded the conflict by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala