The Israeli military said “intense fighting” was taking place Tuesday after it launched a ground offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and warned Lebanese residents not to travel by vehicle in the region.

“Intense fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon,” wrote Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the Israeli army, in a message published in Arabic on Telegram.

“For your personal safety, we ask you not to travel by vehicles from the north to the south of the Litani River” in south Lebanon.