ISTANBUL

10 Ten people were killed and 12 injured Saturday in two Israeli strikes on towns in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

It said seven people were killed and eight injured in an Israeli strike on the town of Deir al-Zahrani in the Nabatieh district.

In a separate statement, it said another Israeli strike on the nearby town of Kfartebnit killed three and injured four.

Israel has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in the south since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2.

Lebanese authorities said at least 1,189 people have since been killed and 3,427 injured in Israeli attacks.

The escalation came amid a joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran, which has killed more than 1,340 people since Feb. 28.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US bases in Gulf countries.