BEIRUT: At least four people were killed and six others injured after an Israeli airstrike hit a four-story residential building in the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek on Wednesday, according to Lebanon’s news agencies. Rescue teams were searching through debris to pull out trapped families.

The strike comes amid a sharp escalation along the Lebanese-Israeli border that began Monday. Hezbollah has launched drones and rockets toward Israel, while Israeli forces have responded with extensive air raids across Lebanon and ground operations in the south.

Hezbollah said it fired rockets at Israeli forces near the border area of Metula in retaliation for Israeli attacks on multiple Lebanese towns, including the southern suburbs of Beirut. The group stated its recent actions were linked to regional tensions involving Iran.

The Israeli military has urged residents of 16 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate, warning that operations against Hezbollah targets would continue and that civilians near the group’s positions could face danger.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported Tuesday that at least 50 people have been killed and 335 wounded since the latest round of violence began.