An Israeli airstrike killed at least 23 people in the village of Aalmat, north of Beirut and far from the areas in southern and eastern Lebanon where the militant Hezbollah group has a major presence. Lebanon's Health Ministry said a further six people were wounded. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip have witnessed heavy airstrikes in the past days, amid renewed efforts to appease the situation in the region.

Lebanese health authorities say that Israel has launched dozens of intense airstrikes across Lebanon's northeastern farming villages, killing at least 52 people and wounding 72 others.