Israel intensifies strikes against Hezbollah

The Israeli military conducted another round of extensive strikes against targets of the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and suggested a ground incursion may be needed to secure its war goals.

The strikes constituted the most geographically widespread bombing that Israel has simultaneously carried out since its conflict with Hezbollah began nearly a year ago in parallel with the war on Gaza.

Smoke was seen rising over southern Lebanon villages, from Marjayoun and from Tyre.

The attacks came amid some of the heaviest cross-border exchanges of fire in nearly a year of conflict.

The military gave no further details of the strikes.

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari called on residents of south Lebanon to keep away from Hezbollah posts. He said Israel began striking Hezbollah posts in Lebanon after identifying an intention to fire on Israel.

An Israeli airstrike killed seven people in a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City, Palestinian health officials said, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted militants operating from the compound.

The strike hit Kafr Qasim School in Beach camp, the officials said. Among those killed was Majed Saleh, the director of the Hamas-run Public Works and Housing ministry, they added.

Israel's military said the strike targeted Hamas fighters there, and that it had used aerial surveillance and taken other steps to limit the risk to civilians.

Hamas, the Islamist militant group that rules Gaza, has regularly denied Israeli accusations that it uses hospitals and other civilian buildings for military purposes in the near year-old war.

The attack and other reported violence in Gaza came amid a surge of strikes further north between Israel and the forces of Hezbollah across the border with Lebanon - a parallel conflict that had stoked fears of wider regional unrest.