Israeli warplanes target vicinity of two churches, hospital in southern Beirut

Israeli warplanes targeted civilian and religious sites in Lebanon early Sunday morning, official media reported.

An Israeli airstrike targeted the vicinity of Our Lady of Salvation Church near Saint George Hospital in the Hadath area of Beirut's southern suburbs, the Lebanese News Agency reported.

Another Israeli airstrike targeted a 12-story residential building near the Mar Michael Church in the Chiyah neighborhood of southern Beirut.

There are no immediate reports of casualties, but the airstrikes caused extensive damage to nearby structures.

In southern Lebanon, Israeli fighter jets struck Jibchit in the Nabatieh district seven times, destroying several homes, according to the news agency.

Israel launched an air campaign in Lebanon against what it claims are targets of the Hezbollah group in late September, in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare.

More than 3,400 people have been killed, nearly 14,600 injured and more than 1 million displaced by Israeli attacks since last October, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Despite international warnings that the Middle East region was on the brink of a regional war, Tel Aviv expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.