UPDATE - Fires erupt in southern Lebanon towns after intensive Israeli airstrikes

UPDATE WITH MORE DETAILS

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, causing fires in several towns.

An Israeli military statement said fighter jets conducted a new wave of airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

Social media accounts circulated images of fires in the southern towns following the strikes.

According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, Israeli warplanes conducted over 50 airstrikes on border towns in southern Lebanon.

The attacks targeted several towns, including Zawtar, Wadi Rumein, Deir El Zahrani, al-Lwaiza, Mlikh, Barti, Kafr Melki and El-Rihane, the broadcaster said.

Israeli warplanes also carried out three airstrikes in the forested area between the towns of Azza and Deir El Zahrani.

The attacks came one day after at least 38 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburb on Friday.

Hezbollah confirmed that at least 16 of its members, including senior leader Ibrahim Aqil and top commander Ahmed Wahbi, were killed in the Israeli strike.

The attack came two days after at least 39 people were killed and over 3,000 others injured in two waves of wireless communication device explosions across Lebanon.

The Lebanese government and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the explosions, while Tel Aviv has not denied or confirmed its involvement.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified amid an escalation in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel’s deadly war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 41,400 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.