BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov 5, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - An Israeli strike targeting a residential building in a town south of Beirut on Tuesday killed at least 20 people, Lebanon's health ministry said.

"The raid by the Israeli enemy on Barja left 20 dead,", the ministry said of the raid on the coastal town around 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of the capital, adding that rescue operations were under way.

Flames continued to emerge from the building on Tuesday evening, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene, as several families fled the site.

It was the second Israeli strike on Tuesday in a region outside the strongholds of Hezbollah, the group targeted by Israel since Sept. 23.

Earlier, a strike targeting another residential building in Jiyeh, near Barja, killed one person, according to Lebanon's health ministry.

A security source told AFP that an apartment used by Hezbollah was targeted.