Tel Aviv, March 3 -- The Israeli military on Tuesday said that its soldiers are "operating in southern Lebanon" as it continues strikes against Hezbollah.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli military is authorised to advance and take control of additional positions in Lebanon on Tuesday. He said that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) 's move to advance in southern Lebanon is intended to prevent "direct fire" on Israeli communities.

"To prevent the possibility of direct fire at Israeli communities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorised the IDF to advance and hold additional dominant terrain in Lebanon and defend the border communities from there," Katz said in a statement.

Earlier, as the conflict ...