Israel’s widely expected ground invasion of Lebanon appeared to be getting underway as its military said troops had begun ‘limited’ raids against Hezbollah targets in the border area, Reuters reports.

The military said in a statement that its targets were located in villages close to the border that posed “an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”

It said the air force and artillery were supporting ground forces with “precise strikes”.

Local residents in the Lebanese border town of Aita al-Shaab reported heavy shelling and the sound of helicopters and drones overhead.