Lebanon’s prime minister has accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” in his country’s south, urging a halt to incessant air and artillery strikes, according to Al Jazeera.

A day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his forces had advanced deeper into Lebanon, his counterpart Nawaf Salam warned the country is facing a “dangerous” escalation and called for “a swift and real ceasefire”.

In a televised address, Salam accused Israel of “collective punishment” by “destroying towns and villages, and forcing their inhabitants into exile”.

This will bring “neither security nor stability” to Israel, he said.