BEIRUT: Israel has begun a ground operation in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military said, with "limited, localised and targeted raids" against Hezbollah.
The targets, located close to the border, pose "an immediate threat to Israeli communities", the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement, externally posted to X.
"The Israeli Air Force and IDF Artillery are supporting the ground forces with precise strikes on military targets in the area," the statement added.
The Israel Defense Forces has ordered residents to evacuate three areas in southern Beirut "immediately".
In a post on social media, the IDF's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee says: "You are located near interests and facilities belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah, and therefore the IDF will act against them forcefully.
Alongside a series of maps, external pointing to specified buildings, he adds: "For your safety and the safety of your family, you must evacuate the buildings immediately, starting at a distance of no less than 500 meters."
On Monday, Lebanon witnessed another bloody 24 hours as relentless Israeli bombardment killed at least 105 people and injured 359 others, according to health officials.
Air attacks were reported across Lebanon on Sunday and overnight into Monday. The targets included a hit in the heart of the capital, Beirut, for the first time in years, signalling further potential escalation towards an all-out war.
