JERUSALEM

At least eight people, including a child, were killed on Friday in Israeli airstrikes targeting six towns in southern Lebanon, according to an official source.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that one person was killed when an Israeli airstrike targeted his vehicle on the main road in Hamadiyah. This road connects several villages from east of Tyre to the El-Buss area in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese Health Ministry also said that an Israeli drone strike on the town of Ayta al-Jabal resulted in the deaths of two people, including a 7-year-old.

The ministry also reported that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on the town of Tayr Harfa in the Tyre district had risen to three.

Separately, the Israeli army reported that several shells were fired from Lebanon, with most of them landing in open areas in Upper Galilee.

In a separate statement, the ministry confirmed that Israeli shelling on the towns of Meis al-Jabal and Aytaroun resulted in two additional fatalities and several injuries.

While the ministry did not specify the nationalities of the deceased, Hezbollah earlier announced on Friday that five of its fighters were killed in clashes with the Israeli army in southern Lebanon, bringing the total number of its fighters killed since last Oct, 8 to 426.

The agency reported that an Israeli drone carried out an aerial attack in the town of Aytaroun, in the Bint Jbeil district. The strike targeted a motorcycle in the town with a guided missile.

Earlier in the day, the Lebanese broadcaster reported that "hostile (Israeli) aircraft" carried out a strike early Friday morning in the western sector of Meis Al-Jabal. Initial reports confirmed two fatalities and one injured person due to the attack.