The Israeli army has been carrying out secretive ground operations to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanese villages close to the border for the past year, military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Tuesday.

He said that the current ground maneuvers in Lebanon are an expansion of the previous year’s operations.

The Israeli army mobilized four additional brigades to be deployed in missions along the northern border, the military said on Tuesday, after it claimed ground operations targeting Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon overnight.

"This will enable the continuation of operational activity against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and the achievement of operational goals, including the safe return of the residents of northern Israel to their homes," the army said in a statement.

Israel said its ground troops crossed into Lebanon overnight, launching what the military described as "localized" raids to root out Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, said it saw no sign of Israeli forces and its troops were ready to confront them.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday said that “through our unity, we can prevent internal strife, as the enemy is not only preparing to occupy our land, but also for internal strife.”

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has urged 1,000 Spanish civilians currently in Lebanon to leave the country and for Israel to stop its assault.

Albares said there are still commercial flights available to leave, but that he is in contact with Spain’s defense ministry to prepare a possible evacuation.

Hezbollah’s media office says an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb destroyed the building housing the offices of a religious TV station.

The media office said that there were no weapons stored in the building where Al-Sirat TV, a Shiite Muslim religious TV station, had its offices.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant briefed U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on ground operations the army launched inside south Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions, his office said on Tuesday.

"The minister discussed the localized and targeted raids that the IDF (Israeli army) launched overnight, against Hezbollah terror targets in the border area of southern Lebanon," said the statement from the defense ministry.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, on Tuesday called for a United Nations air bridge for aid deliveries for almost a million people displaced by Israeli strikes.

Berri called on the United Nations to establish an "air bridge to ensure the delivery of relief supplies", a statement issued by his office said, also urging the International and Lebanese Red Cross to "carry out their duties in delivering relief and medical supplies to south Lebanon".

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday that “a de-escalation at regional level is urgent and necessary.”

“The protection of civilians remains the priority along with guaranteeing the security of the Italian military contingent of UNIFIL present in southern Lebanon," she said in a statement.

A British government-chartered flight is due to leave Beirut on Wednesday to bring United Kingdom nationals out of Lebanon.

The government says U.K. nationals, their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18 are eligible, and priority will be given to the most vulnerable.