Israel starts ground raids in south Lebanon, orders evacuations in Beirut

The Israeli army said Tuesday that troops had started “ground raids” in villages in southern Lebanon, after militant group Hezbollah said it had targeted “enemy soldiers” at the countries’ border.

A Lebanese security official said Israel had also conducted at least six strikes on south Beirut, while Syrian state media reported deadly strikes around its capital, Damascus.

Despite international calls for de-escalation, Israel has vowed to keep fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah and has declared a military zone in parts of its border with Lebanon.