Beirut, June 19 (Petra)-- Eighteen people were killed and two others injured in a series of intensive Israeli airstrikes carried out since dawn on Friday targeting the southern Lebanese towns of Harouf, Kfarsir, Sharqiyah, Jibchit, and Abbassiyeh.

A Lebanese security source told Petra's correspondent in Beirut that rescue and civil defense teams are continuing search operations for people believed to be trapped under the rubble.

The source added that Israeli warplanes also launched strikes on the Abu Rashid Heights in the Western Bekaa region.

According to the source, more than 12 Israeli airstrikes have been carried out over the past several hours, while Israeli artillery shelled 10 towns in the Nabatieh district, causing extensive destruction.

//Petra// MF