There are fears in Lebanon that Israel is preparing for a large-scale ground invasion.

The comments by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were the most explicit yet by a senior Israeli official on seizing Lebanese territory in a fight Israel says targets Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

By Ahmed Fahmy, Amr Abdallah Dalsh and Alexander Cornwell Near Tyre, LEBANON/TEL AVIV, March 22 (Reuters) - Israel struck a main bridge linking Lebanon's south to the rest of the country on Sunday after ordering its military to destroy all crossings over the Litani River and to step up the demolition of homes near the southern border.

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Fleeing in the middle of the night, sleeping without blankets in schools-turned-shelters, and struggling to find basic resources.

Tensions in Lebanon remain high amid Hezbollah rocket fire toward Israel and intensified Israeli strikes across the country.

Israel’s military said it carried out a second wave of strikes targeting gas stations controlled by Hezbollah in Lebanon, escalating attacks on infrastructure it says is used by the Iran-backed militant group.

Israel will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River to create a "defensive buffer," Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday, spelling out for the first time Israel's intent to seize territory amounting to nearly a tenth of Lebanon.

Foreign minister reiterates condemnation of Iran over the strait of Hormuz, and says Australia does not want to see occupation of southern Lebanon by Israel