The strikes, part of an expanded military campaign since March 2 after Hezbollah joined the regional conflict alongside Iran, hit Beirut and areas in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry said a strike in Beirut’s Jnah district killed at least five people and wounded 52.

Additional attacks included a strike on an apartment building in Ain Saadeh east of Beirut, where three people were killed, including Lebanese Forces official Pierre Mouawad and his wife, according to the state-run National News Agency.

In the southern town of Kfar Hatta, seven people, including a four-year-old girl, were killed, the ministry said.Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the specific strikes. Chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited troops in southern Lebanon on Sunday and said operations against Hezbollah would intensify.

Hezbollah said it had fired a cruise missile at an Israeli warship off the coast, but the Israeli military said it was not aware of such an attack.The escalation prompted the closure of the Masnaa crossing, Lebanon’s main land route to Syria. Israel had warned it would strike the crossing, alleging it was being used by Hezbollah to transfer military equipment.

Lebanese and Syrian officials said the crossing, a key civilian and trade artery, was evacuated and shut as a precaution.The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon warned that exchanges of fire near its positions could risk further escalation.Since the conflict expanded, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 1,400 people and displaced over one million, according to Lebanese authorities.

A strike in Jnah landed about 100 meters from Rafik Hariri University Hospital, causing damage and panic among patients. Hospital officials said they received dozens of casualties, while witnesses described explosions and falling debris in the area.Residents reported repeated strikes without warning.

Nancy Hassan, a local resident who previously lost her daughter in earlier fighting, said the campaigns had again hit her neighborhood.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for negotiations to prevent further destruction, particularly in southern regions where Israeli ground forces have advanced.

The strikes, part of an intensified campaign since early March after Hezbollah joined the regional conflict alongside Iran, hit multiple regions including Beirut and southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese health ministry said an attack in Beirut’s Jnah neighborhood killed at least five people and wounded 52.Additional strikes included an apartment building in Ain Saadeh east of Beirut, where three people were killed, among them Lebanese Forces official Pierre Mouawad and his wife, according to the state-run National News Agency.

In the southern town of Kfar Hatta, seven people, including a four-year-old girl, were killed, the ministry said.The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the specific strikes or their intended targets.

Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir visited troops in southern Lebanon on Sunday and said operations against Hezbollah would intensify.Hezbollah said it had launched a cruise missile toward an Israeli warship off the coast, though the Israeli military said it was not aware of such an incident.

The escalation prompted the closure of the Masnaa border crossing, the main transit point between Lebanon and Syria. Israel’s military had warned it would strike the crossing, alleging Hezbollah was using it to transport military equipment.

Lebanese and Syrian officials said the crossing, a key trade and civilian route, was evacuated and temporarily shut.Clashes near United Nations positions raised concerns of broader escalation.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon warned that continued exchanges of fire in proximity to its forcea could trigger retaliatory responses.Since the start of the conflict, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 1,400 people, including 126 children, and displaced over one million population, according to Lebanese authorities.

The strike in Jnah landed close to Rafik Hariri University Hospital, causing structural damage and panic among patients, hospital officials said. Medical staff reported receiving dozens of casualties, while nearby residents described repeated explosions and falling debris.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun renewed calls for negotiations with Israel, urging efforts to prevent further destruction, particularly in the south where Israeli ground operations have expanded.

The three soldiers, serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, died in two incidents last week amid ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Farizal Rhomadhon, 28, was killed on March 29 when a projectile exploded, while Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, 33, and Muhammad Nur Ichwan, 26, died a day later after a blast struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy, according to Indonesian authorities.

The soldiers were buried with full military honors in their hometowns, with coffins draped in the national flag and gun salutes marking the ceremonies. Family members gathered to mourn, scattering flower petals at the graves.

Zulmi was buried in a military cemetery in Bandung, West Java, while the other two were laid to rest in Central Java and Yogyakarta. Speaking after the funeral, Zulmi’s father said he accepted his son’s death with pride despite the loss.

Indonesian National Armed Forces commander Agus Subiyanto said the government had prepared compensation and entitlements for the families, including payments from the United Nations, in recognition of the soldiers’ service.

The bodies of the three peacekeepers arrived in Jakarta on Saturday and were received with military honors in a ceremony attended by President Prabowo Subianto, who condemned the attacks and described them as acts that undermine peace.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry called the incidents “unacceptable” and urged the United Nations Security Council to convene troop-contributing countries to review the situation and enhance protection for UN personnel.

Foreign Minister Sugiono also called for a thorough United Nations investigation into the attacks and demanded improved security arrangements for peacekeeping forces operating in southern Lebanon.

The funerals come days after another explosion at a UN facility near El Adeisse injured three additional Indonesian peacekeepers, underscoring mounting risks to international forces deployed in the area.

The Israeli military said it targeted positions in the Lebanese capital following overnight operations that included the destruction of a bridge linking Sohmor and Mashghara over the Litani River, a route it said was used to transfer reinforcements.

An AFP journalist reported hearing two explosions in Beirut early Saturday, with smoke seen rising from one of the strike locations. Local media said Israeli warplanes hit areas in the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold that has been repeatedly targeted in recent days.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency confirmed the bridge strike, while local reports indicated a second crossing was also hit. Israeli forces have previously targeted multiple bridges along the Litani River, an area roughly 30 km north of the Israeli border where Israel has signaled it seeks to maintain security control.

The escalation follows Hezbollah’s entry into the broader regional conflict on March 2, when the group launched rockets at Israel after a U.S.-Israeli strike killed Iran’s supreme leader.Lebanon’s health ministry said two people were killed and 15 wounded in Sohmor after an Israeli strike hit as worshippers were leaving a mosque following Friday prayers.

Separately, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reported that three peacekeepers were wounded in an explosion at one of its positions in southern Lebanon, the third such incident in recent days. The origin of the blast remains unclear, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of launching a rocket that struck the site.

According to Lebanese authorities, more than 1,300 people have been killed since the latest round of hostilities began. Israel’s military says it has struck over 3,500 targets across Lebanon in the past month, while Hezbollah reports carrying out more than 1,300 operations against Israeli positions.

Residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs continued daily life amid the strikes, with religious observances taking place despite the ongoing bombardment.

The conflict has also taken a toll on UN peacekeeping forces, with multiple fatalities reported in recent days. The United Nations says 97 personnel have been killed in violence since the mission was established in 1978.

The injured personnel were part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which said the blast occurred near El Adeisse and that the injured were taken to hospital, with two reported in serious condition.

The United Nations Information Centre confirmed the nationalities of the wounded, adding that the cause of the explosion remained unknown.The incident follows a series of deadly events involving Indonesian peacekeepers in recent days.

One was killed on March 29 when a projectile exploded in southern Lebanon, with a UN security source attributing the blast to Israeli tank fire. Two others died a day later after an explosion struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy in the same region.

The bodies of the three killed peacekeepers are expected to arrive in Jakarta on Saturday, according to Indonesian military officials.

UNIFIL said the recent underscore the dangers faced by peacekeepers operating in areas affected by hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which have intensified since Lebanon became involved in the wider regional conflict in early March.

The mission reiterated calls for all parties to respect their obligations under international law to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, including by avoiding military activity near peacekeeping positions.

“This has been a difficult week for peacekeepers working near the central part of UNIFIL’s area of operations,” the mission said in a statement.

Indonesia’s U.N. representative, Umar Hadi, made the request during an emergency Security Council meeting on Tuesday, urging an independent inquiry rather than relying on explanations provided by Israel.

The call comes after two separate incidents over the weekend in southern Lebanon that killed Indonesian troops serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).The Indonesian foreign ministry said earlier this week that ongoing Israeli military operations in the region had placed U.N. peacekeepers at significant risk.

The deaths occurred during a period of intensified violence that also saw Lebanese journalists and medical personnel killed in Israeli strikes.One of the victims, Farizal Rhomadhon, 28, died in an attack on Sunday.

Local media reported that he is survived by his wife and child. In his hometown in Yogyakarta, relatives gathered to mourn, with family members saying his body had yet to be returned to Indonesia.

Indonesia’s initial response to the deaths drew criticism domestically, particularly on social media, where users questioned the lack of clarity regarding the cause of the incident. Authorities had initially described the event as resulting from “indirect artillery fire.”

Preliminary findings cited by U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix indicated that a roadside explosion struck a convoy carrying two Indonesian peacekeepers on Monday.

The Israeli military said its internal review found no evidence that its forces had placed explosive devices in the area or conducted operations there at the time.

Indonesia is among the largest contributors to U.N. peacekeeping missions, with more than 2,700 personnel deployed as of 2024. The country has also pledged troops for a potential U.N.-mandated multinational stabilization force in Gaza.

UNIFIL said the blast occurred on Sunday and that it had launched an investigation to determine the origin of the projectile. “We do not know the origin of the projectile,” the mission said, adding that emergency response teams were deployed.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry confirmed the fatality involved one of its nationals and said three other Indonesian peacekeepers were injured by indirect artillery fire near their position.

Jakarta condemned the incident, calling any harm to peacekeepers unacceptable, and reiterated its criticism of Israeli military actions in southern Lebanon.

Rising risks for UN forcesUNIFIL operates in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel, where clashes between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters have intensified in recent weeks.

The mission has increasingly been caught in crossfire. Earlier this month, Ghana said two of its peacekeepers were critically injured after a UN position was struck. Israel later acknowledged its tank fire had hit the site while responding to anti-tank missiles from Hezbollah.

The escalation follows Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel on March 2, which triggered a new Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon amid a wider regional conflict involving Iran.

UNIFIL urged all parties to adhere to international law and avoid actions that endanger UN personnel and facilities.

UNIFIL condemned the attack on its peacekeepers, calling it “deeply troubling”.

“We strongly remind the parties of their obligations to protect peacekeepers and avoid putting the men and women who are working to restore stability at risk,” it said in a statement.