Casualties have been reported along the Israel-Lebanon border as the army traded fire with Iran-backed group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as Israel battles Hamas, AFP reports.

Israel had already ordered the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a border town which is home to some 25,000 people, as the border area has come fire from Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah said one of its fighters had been killed while in Israel, two Thai farm workers were wounded, emergency services said.

“Let’s be clear, as events unfold, if something comes up that calls for greater intervention by us, we will do so,” said Hezbollah number two Naim Qassem.