BEIRUT, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 people were killed and 24 others injured on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon, a Lebanese Civil Defense source said.

The Civil Defense source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the casualties are the result of Israeli raids on southern Lebanese sites, including Zahrani River, Srifa, Qabrikha, Babliyeh, Kfar Dounine, Borj Rahal, and the municipality of Deir Qanoun.

Civil Defense teams and the Lebanese Red Cross worked to transfer the bodies of the dead and wounded to hospitals in Sidon, Tyre, and Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, while rescue teams were still working to remove the rubble in search of missing persons.

Since Sunday afternoon, violent clashes took place between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces that infiltrated several border towns in southern Lebanon, according to Hezbollah and Lebanese security sources.

"The fiercest clashes, in which heavy and medium machine guns, artillery shells, and rockets were used, were taking place on the outskirts of the villages of Rab El Thalathine, al-Taybeh, Houla, Mays al-Jabal, Aita al-Shaab, Rmeish, Jabal Sadana, Birkat Al-Naqqar and Kfarchouba," the security sources said.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in separate statements that its fighters targeted several Israeli sites with rockets and drones, including the Filon base, headquarters of the 210th Division in northern Israel, the Samson base west of Lake Tiberias, Beria Air Defense and Missile Base, and the city of Haifa.

The group said it also targeted Israeli army gatherings on the outskirts of several Lebanese villages with artillery shells and missiles.

Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has been launching intensive airstrikes on Lebanon in a sharp escalation with Hezbollah. It has also conducted what it said was a "limited, targeted" ground operation against Hezbollah positions near the Lebanese border.

Since Oct. 8, 2023, Hezbollah and the Israeli army have been exchanging fire across the Lebanon-Israel border amid fears of a broader conflict as the war between Hamas and Israel continues in the Gaza Strip. Enditem

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