The Israeli military has said its troops “are operating in southern Lebanon” in a new ground incursion as it continues strikes in what it described in a statement as a “forward defence” measure along the border, with another front igniting in the regional war prompted by United States-Israel attacks on Iran.

A Lebanese military source has told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that the army has pulled its troops back from the border area to ensure their safety amid an escalation in Israeli attacks.

A senior Hezbollah official says the recent Israeli attacks have left the group with “no option but to return to resistance”.