An Israeli strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon killed at least 13 people and wounded several others on Tuesday, Lebanon state media said.

The drone strike hit a car in the parking lot of a mosque in the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp on the outskirts of the coastal city of Sidon, according to the state-run National News Agency.

Lebanon's Health Ministry reported "13 dead and a number of others wounded" in the strike, adding that "ambulances are still transporting more wounded to nearby hospitals."

Israel claims it struck Hamas operative

Israel said that Tuesday's strikes targeted a Hamas training compound that was being used to prepare an attack against Israel and its army. The Israeli army said it would continue to act against Hamas wherever the group operates.

Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, among others, denied having any such compounds in Palestinian camps in Lebanon and called Israel's claims "lies."

However, the Associated Press news agency reported that Hamas allies in the camp wouldn't allow journalists to see what had happened.

The strike on Tuesday was the deadliest in Lebanon since Hezbollah and Israel reached a ceasefire agreement a year ago. The Hamas- and Iran-allied miltant group wields a great deal of influence in the country, despite being at odds with the government.

Over the last two years, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed scores of people.

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher