Death toll from Israeli strike on south Beirut rises to 4

BEIRUT

The death toll from an Israeli strike in the southern suburb of Beirut rose to four and 80 other people were injured, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The victims were two women and two children, the ministry added in a statement.

The Lebanese Red Cross said some of the injured were in serious condition.

The Israeli army confirmed that it targeted Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr whom Tel Aviv blamed for Saturday’s missile attack that killed 12 people in the Druze town of Majdal Shams in Israel-occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

Hezbollah confirmed that Shukr was inside the building hit by Israel on Tuesday, but said his fate remains unknown.

Tuesday's airstrike was the second Israeli attack on the southern suburb of Beirut since Jan. 2, when Israel assassinated Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri.

Fears have grown about a full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah amid an exchange of cross-border attacks between the two sides.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of a deadly Israeli onslaught on Gaza which has killed more than 39,400 people since last October following an attack by Hamas.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala