The Israeli army has announced the start of a ‘specific and precise’ ground operation against Hezbollah targets near the border in southern Lebanon.

Special army commandos infiltrated the Lebanese side of the border, Israel Radio reported.

Residents in the Lebanese border town of Ayta al-Shaab reported heavy shelling and the sound of helicopters and drones in the sky. Lebanese media also reported that the Israeli army launched a raid on the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp around the southern Lebanese city of Sidon.

Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adrai said today  that fierce fighting was taking place with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to Reuters.