Dozens of people were killed in a wave of Israeli air and artillery strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, which Lebanon’s health ministry said left at least 31 dead, including children.

Israel said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah targets, marking one of the heaviest bombardments since a US-brokered ceasefire in April.

The escalation followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to intensify military operations against Hezbollah and “press the pedal even harder.”

Hezbollah and Israel have continued exchanging fire despite the ceasefire, with rockets launched into northern Israel and ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the BBC has reported.

The renewed violence has heightened fears of wider regional escalation and caused panic among civilians in affected areas, including Beirut’s southern suburbs.