Southern Lebanon is where Hezbollah maintains tunnels to store missiles — and from where it can launch them, Koulouriotis said. Some of the more than 50 Israelis killed by Hezbollah over the past year were hit by anti-tank missiles.

Israel will evacuate its northern-most city as clashes with Hezbollah along its border with Lebanon continue to intensify. Kiryat Shmona will be emptied of its 20,000 residents following heavy cross-border exchanges of fire with the Iran-backed group and its Palestinian allies.