India, May 27 -- The Israeli forces clashed with Hezbollah on Tuesday along the strategic Litani river in southern Lebanon as troops advanced beyond the security zone.

This comes even as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement earlier that the Israeli military is "operating with large forces in the field and seizing strategic areas."

Despite a fragile US-brokered ceasefire in place between Israel and Lebanon since April 16, both sides have accused each other of violations. A US official had earlier said that Israel's renewed intention to expand operations came after Hezbollah repeatedly ignored warning to halt its attacks which would undermine the negotiations, Reuters news agency reported.

Netanyahu said the Israeli force...