Friday's strike was the third blamed on or claimed by Israel to hit the southern suburbs of Beirut since October, when cross-border clashes began between Hezbollah and Israel over the Israeli war on Gaza.

The latest strike came days after deadly sabotage attacks on Hezbollah's communications devices sent tensions soaring.

"Israel conducted an air strike on the Beirut southern suburbs near Al-Qaem mosque," a Lebanese security source told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

In a new toll, Lebanon's health ministry said 12 people were killed.

"The number of martyrs in the Israeli enemy strike on Beirut's southern suburbs rose to 12 people with 66 wounded, including nine in critical condition," the ministry said, adding rescuers were still looking through the rubble.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar television broadcast live footage from the scene of the attack that showed ambulances rushing to the area and transporting injured people on stretchers.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported "an enemy raid targeting an apartment in a residential building in the Al-Jamous area of the southern suburb" of Beirut.

The previous strikes on south Beirut killed Shukr on July 30 and Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Aruri on January 2.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online