Israel resumed heavy strikes against Hezbollah in Beirut's southern suburbs and other areas Tuesday as its troops advanced into southern Lebanon.

In the pre-dawn hours of Monday morning, Hezbollah opened a new front in the US-Israeli war against Iran when it launched “missiles and a swarm of drones” at a military base in northern Israel.

Israel warned residents to immediately leave a swath of south Lebanon on Wednesday, ordering them to move north of the Litani River on the third day of full-blown hostilities with the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.

The Iran-backed Lebanese militia attacks its powerful opponent with rockets and drones, widening the front in the regional conflict.

By Maya Gebeily, Maayan Lubell and Jana Choukeir BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 3 (Reuters) - Lebanon was pulled deeper into the war in the Middle East on Tuesday as the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel for a second consecutive day and Israel sent troops into the south and carried out waves of airstrikes.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Wednesday that his Iran‑backed organization has resumed fighting to compel Israel to halt its aggression.

Hezbollah’s entry into the current war followed the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The group has long been aligned with the Islamic Republic.

Israel has warned residents of dozens of villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate as airstrikes around Beirut intensify and Hezbollah reports more attacks.