BEIRUT

The Israeli army conducted a series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon on Thursday night and early Friday, resulting in many casualties, including journalists, and the destruction of four buildings.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, three Lebanese journalists were killed early Friday in an Israeli airstrike on their residence in Hasbaya, southern Lebanon.

In the Marjayoun district, one person was killed and two were injured when a strike hit the village of Debbine around midnight, the agency reported.

The airstrikes also targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs leveling four buildings and causing a massive fire that blanketed the area in thick black smoke, it added.

Anadolu correspondents reported that around 13 airstrikes targeted Beirut's southern suburbs overnight.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued throughout the night on villages in the Tyre and Bint Jbeil districts in southern Lebanon.

An attack on the village of Maarakeh injured several civilians who were transferred to hospitals in Tyre, according to Lebanese news reports.

Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon since last month against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from year-long cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Israel expanded the conflict this year by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi.