Israeli troops try to advance into Debbine amid Hezbollah's resistance

Israeli troops were trying to advance from the occupied Shebaa farms into Debbine in south Lebanon after violent strikes and artillery shelling on the southern town.

The Israeli army also targeted Thursday Hebbarieh and Kfarshouba, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for several drone attacks targeting soldiers in Khiam, Taybeh and Qantara in south Lebanon and troops and military posts in north Israel including in Kfar Giladi.

Troops were destroying border villages as they tried to advance amid fierce resistance from Hezbollah. Video footages showed the destruction of villages including Aita al-Shaab, Ainata and Marwahine.

Deeper in the south, the Israeli military carried out two strikes against a key bridge, destroying it, after calling on civilians to evacuate the entire area of southern Lebanon up to the Zahrani River, about 40 kilometers north of the border. The Qasmieh bridge is the last bridge between the Tyre and Sidon regions.

In the mountains east of Beirut, an Israeli strike targeted a car on the Dahr al-Baydar road linking Beirut to Damascus, killing one person.

U.S. President Donald Trump and an Israeli minister said the leaders of Israel and Lebanon will speak on Thursday in what would be a historic first, but Lebanon said it was not aware of any planned contact with the Israeli side.

Diplomatic efforts to halt hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah reached a fever pitch on Wednesday, with reports suggesting a potential ceasefire could be announced soon.