Hezbollah said Friday its members had clashed directly with Israeli forces in two south Lebanon villages, as Israeli airstrikes on several areas killed at least six people, according to the health ministry.
In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters had clashed with "Israeli enemy army forces in the villages of Bayada and Shamaa at point-blank range with light and medium weapons," while also claiming responsibility for attacks on Israeli border towns and positions.
The coastal village of Bayada, adjacent to Shamaa, lies eight kilometres from the border with Israel, according to AFP.
Israeli forces are pushing into numerous towns in southern Lebanon, with officials saying they aim to create a security zone reaching the Litani River, some 30 kilometres from the border, to push Hezbollah back and protect northern Israeli communities.
On Friday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on several areas, particularly in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese state media.
One of the strikes, on the town of Saksakiyeh in the Sidon district, killed "four civilians and wounded eight others," in an initial toll reported by the health ministry.
At dawn, Israel had targeted the Tahouitet al-Ghadir area in Beirut's southern suburbs without prior warning, killing two people, according to the health ministry.
Israeli army spokesperson Effie Defrin said Friday that "Contrary to the declaration by the Lebanese government earlier this year - Hezbollah is still operating and conducting attacks from southern Lebanon."
"If the Lebanese government will not disarm Hezbollah, the (army) will," he said.
After nearly four weeks of war between Hezbollah and Israel, Nicolas Von Arx, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross, warned Friday that "the humanitarian situation is worsening and civilians, as usual, are paying the highest price" in Lebanon.
After meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, he said, "Civilians must be protected wherever they are, whether they remain in their homes or are forced to flee".
According to the authorities, the war has forced more than one million people to flee their homes, and more than a thousand people have been killed since the conflict began.
