BEIRUT

Lebanese authorities said Thursday that some 52 people were killed and 161 others injured in Israeli airstrikes across the country in the last 24 hours.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said the toll brought the number of people killed since October of last year to 3,103 and 13,856 others injured.

Israel has launched a massive air campaign in Lebanon since late September against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from year-long cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Israel expanded the conflict by launching a ground assault into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1 this year.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala