BEIRUT (AP) — Israel sent additional troops into southern Lebanon Tuesday and ordered residents of more than 80 villages to evacuate as the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group said it is ready for an open war, escalating the already volatile situation in the region.

The Israeli military said troops advanced to protect border towns from Hezbollah attacks, spurring fears that the government is weighing a wider ground war.

In the pre-dawn hours of Monday morning, Hezbollah opened a new front in the US-Israeli war against Iran when it launched “missiles and a swarm of drones” at a military base in northern Israel.

Israeli strike hits Hezbollah-aligned media building in Beirut’s southern suburbs following an evacuation warning.

Trump said the "big wave" is yet to come as the US and Israel continue to pound Iran after killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. | ITV National News

The Israeli military has not ruled out a ground invasion of Lebanon, with a spokesperson stating that 'All options are on the table'. This follows Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, which were launched

Israeli Air Force said that Abu Hamza Rami, who was commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hussein Makled, the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters, have been eliminated in two separate strikes carried out by the Israeli forces.