In a statement, the ministry said “the Israeli enemy’s airstrikes yesterday, Wednesday, resulted in a preliminary toll of 303 martyrs and 1,150 wounded”, adding that the cumulative toll since the start of the war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah on March 2 rose to 1,888 dead and 6,092 wounded.

The ministry added that the Wednesday toll includes 71 women, 30 children and nine elderly people.

It warned the death toll could rise further as search efforts were ongoing, as well as DNA testing of bodies transferred to hospitals.

The Lebanese military said four soldiers were killed in Israel’s Wednesday strikes, one of them on duty in Sidon in southern Lebanon, while the three others were off duty in the northeast.

The Lebanese army, which is not a party to the war, has now lost 14 soldiers to Israeli attacks, two of them on duty.

Lebanon’s General Security Directorate also announced the death of one of its personnel in the attacks.