BEIRUT, JUNE 27 :  At least five Lebanese civilians were injured late Wednesday night in Israeli airstrikes that destroyed a residential building in the Al-Mashaa neighborhood of Nabatieh, a city in southern Lebanon, according to medical and military sources speaking anonymously to Xinhua.

The sources reported that an Israeli warplane fired two air-to-surface missiles at the two-story building, causing it to collapse and damaging its surrounding structures. Rescue teams rushed to the scene to clear debris, while Lebanese Red Cross ambulances transported injured individuals to a hospital in Nabatieh.

An official medical source said that five people with critical to moderate injuries and nine others suffering from smoke inhalation were transported to the hospital. Meanwhile, a civil defence source confirmed ongoing efforts to remove rubble and locate potential missing persons.

According to the sources, the airstrikes were part of nine Israeli raids conducted across five villages and towns in southern Lebanon’s eastern border region on Wednesday. These attacks reportedly destroyed 10 homes, damaged another 35, and sparked several fires.

Heightened tensions have persisted along the Lebanon-Israel border since October 8, 2023. This followed a rocket barrage launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah towards Israel in support of Hamas attacks on the previous day. Israel retaliated with heavy artillery fire into southeastern Lebanon.(UNI)