Israeli troops are now entering south-west Lebanon - until now, the invasion had focused on the eastern side of the border.

Israel said early on Sunday it had carried out "a series of targeted strikes" on southern suburbs close to the Lebanese capital.

Israeli claims that its soldiers began ground operations inside southern Lebanon "are false," Hezbollah said in a Tuesday statement. "No direct ground clashes have yet taken place between the resistance fighters and the occupation forces," the group said, referring to Israeli troops.