The Israeli airstrike on Sidon resulted, according to an initial count, in the deaths of five citizens and injuries to seven others, the Ministry of Health reported, as cited by the Lebanese National News Agency.

This is the second bombing carried out by the Israeli army since early Friday morning against areas in the south of the country.

Previously, at least four people were killed and several homes and residential buildings were destroyed during airstrikes carried out by Israeli fighter jets against towns in southern Lebanon, according to the same source.

The expansion of hostilities into Lebanese territory occurred on Monday, in the context of the regional escalation unleashed after Israel and the United States launched a military offensive on Saturday against Iran, an ally of the Hezbollah resistance movement.

That same day, Hezbollah attacked an Israeli military base in northern Israel in response to Tel Aviv’s bombing of Lebanon and the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Subsequently, Israel launched a new offensive against Lebanese territory with airstrikes against the southern suburbs of Beirut and areas in the south and east of the country. On Tuesday, Israeli forces also began a limited ground incursion.

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