Israel’s air force pounded targets in Lebanon as its soldiers clashed with Hezbollah militants in the southern part of the country, the military said on Sunday, with the Lebanese Health Ministry saying that at least a dozen people have been killed over the past 24 hours.

Israel's military said its troops opened fire near a UNIFIL base in the area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon after instructing U.N. forces in the area to remain in protected spaces on Thursday morning.

Israeli airstrikes have hit the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force and other positions in southern Lebanon in recent days, drawing widespread condemnation from around the world