Israeli Armed Forces declared the entire territory of Lebanon south of the Zahrani River a war zone on Wednesday, designating an area for potential air and ground operations that is unprecedented in scope this century and larger than the territory Israel occupied from 1982 to 2000.

Israeli forces launched air strikes and artillery barrages across multiple towns in southern Lebanon, killing at least five people including a paramedic in Zibdin. Hezbollah responded by engaging Israeli aircraft with surface-to-air missiles, while Israeli residents were instructed to shelter, and Prime Minister Netanyahu stated there is currently no ceasefire agreement with Lebanon.