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

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.

The Lebanese news agency reported that shrapnel from an interception had landed over a series of towns north of Beirut and led to some light wounds.

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

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.

A Palmyra man was charged with theft after he allegedly broke into a Lebanon city home March 7 and attempted to steal two vehicles.

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 has pledged to apply the "Gaza model" in southern Lebanon, directing its army to accelerate the destruction of villages along the border.