GAZA: Intensified cross-border fire from Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement into Israel could trigger serious escalation, the Israeli military has said, Reuters reports.

“Hezbollah’s increasing aggression is bringing us to the brink of what could be a wider escalation, one that could have devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region,” Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a video statement in English.

“Israel will take the necessary measures to protect its civilians — until security along our border with Lebanon is restored,” Hagari said.

Israel has destroyed more than half of the buildings in Gaza in its relentless bombing of all structures, Al Jazeera cites the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) as reporting.