Iran strongly condemned on Friday what it called "savage" Israeli attacks on Lebanon after Israel struck several areas in south Lebanon a day earlier.

In a statement, the Iranian foreign ministry urged "the United Nations, the international community and regional countries to confront the warmongering" of Israel while offering "condolences on the martyrdom of Lebanese citizens during the savage attacks".

The Lebanese army said Thursday that Israeli strikes on the country's south aimed to prevent the completion of its deployment there in line with last year's ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

"The Israeli enemy launched a wide-scale attack in the south, targeting several areas and towns. These condemned attacks are a continuation of the enemy's destructive approach, which aims to undermine Lebanon's stability... and prevent the completion of the army's deployment in accordance with the cessation of hostilities agreement," the army said in a statement.

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on three Hezbollah members accused of involvement in financial transactions for Hezbollah, as Israel launched new strikes.

The sanctions were announced ahead of a visit to Lebanon by John Hurley, the Treasury Department official in charge of sanctions against extremist groups.

Cabinet met Thursday in Beirut to follow up on a plan to disarm Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups in the country drafted by the Lebanese military.

Army chief Gen. Rudolph Haikal briefed the government for the second time on its plan to disarm Hezbollah, while Israel carried out airstrikes in south Lebanon.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will visit Lebanon next week to discuss the latest developments with President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper said.

The daily claimed that the visit comes amid Israeli pressure on the U.S. to stop supporting the Lebanese government that, according to Israel, is not serious in implementing Hezbollah's disarmament plan.

Israel does not want escalation in Lebanon and there are no new instructions for the residents of northern Israel, an Israeli security official told the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday, after Israel issued evacuation orders for four buildings in four southern Lebanese towns prior to airstrikes.

“We’re continuing our firm and strict approach in Lebanon and there is no change in the adopted policy in Lebanon,” Israeli army officers told Israel’s Channel 7.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari met Thursday with Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal and discussed with him the army's deployment in south Lebanon following a decision by the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah, starting in south Lebanon.

The meeting comes ahead of a visit by Saudi envoy Prince Yazid Bin Farhan with a Saudi delegation. Al-Jadeed said Bin Farhan will arrive next week in Beirut with a high-level official, while LBCI reported that the visit would start on Monday.

The Israeli military said it had launched a series of strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on Thursday, shortly after issuing evacuation warnings to residents in parts of the area.

"The IDF (Israeli army) has begun a series of strikes on Hezbollah military targets in southern Lebanon," the military said.

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam will meet prior to Thursday’s cabinet session to discuss the statement issued in the morning by Hezbollah and whether to respond to it or not, MTV said.

In Its statement, Hezbollah lashed out against the prospect of any "political" negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, and insisted that it has a right to defend itself.

Israeli warplanes on Thursday bombed an open area between the Tyre district towns of Toura and al-Abbasiyeh, killing one person and wounding three others, the National News Agency said.

The strike also sparked panic among students in the schools of Maarakeh, al-Abbasiyeh, Toura and Tyre, prompting several schools to suspend classes and creating major traffic congestion on Tyre’s entrances.