Israeli strikes on Lebanese villages kill nine

Lebanon’s health ministry says Israeli strikes on two villages, Saturday, one north of Beirut and another to the south, killed at least nine people.

The ministry in a statement said an Israeli enemy strike on Maaysra, a Shiite Muslim majority village in a mostly Christian mountain area north of Beirut, killed five people and wounded 14 others.

The statement said four people were killed separately and 14 others wounded in an Israeli enemy strike on Barja in the Shouf district south of the capital.

The official National News Agency, NNA, also reported unspecified casualties in an Israeli strike targeting Deir Billa, some 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the town of Batroun on Lebanon’s north coast.

It said families from south Lebanon had taken refuge in a house that was targeted.

In east Lebanon, the management of the Tal Chiha Hospital said in a statement that the facility sustained light material damage due to strikes that targeted the vicinity of the mainly Christian town of Zahle.

It reported no injuries to patients or staff and said the hospital was still operating.

Since September 23, Israel has been heavily bombarding Lebanon, saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites.

All four locations reported hit on Saturday are outside areas usually considered Hezbollah strongholds.

Israeli strikes on Lebanese villages kill nine