The Israeli military said it would "soon strike military infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation" in the Zuqaq al-Mafdi area of the southern city of Tyre.

In a separate warning a military spokesman later urged those remaining south of the Litani, an area covering hundreds of square kilometres, to move north, repeating a call the military gave on Wednesday.

"Strikes are ongoing as the army is operating with great force in the area," the statement said.

"For the sake of your safety you must leave the area immediately."

Many Shia residents of villages in the area had already fled northwards since the first Israeli warning.

Israel sent ground troops into Lebanon and conducted many air strikes on the country this week after Hezbollah joined its ally Iran in attacking Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic.

Hezbollah on Saturday warned residents in a part of northern Israel that it was going to strike the area.

burs-del-lba/del/dcp