A little earlier this afternoon, Israel’s prime minister spoke at the opening session of the parliament winter assembly. 

During his address, Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was “preparing for the continuation of war” in the north and the south.

Fighting along Israel’s border with Lebanon intensified on Sunday with Hezbollah militants firing rockets and an anti-tank missile, and Israel responding with airstrikes and shelling.

The Israeli military also reported shooting at one of its border posts. 

The fighting killed at least one person on the Israeli side and wounded several on both sides of the border.

But the US has warned other countries not to take advantage of Israel’s situation. 

“The state of Israel, of course, cherishes the support of President Biden and the American people,” Mr Netanyahu said. 

“We are preparing for the continuation of the war in the south and we are also prepared for war in the north.”

He also spoke about the 199 Israeli hostages taken to Gaza by Hamas, and said the country is “committed to all their families”. 

“We are relentless about this effort to bring back our brothers and sisters, men and women, children’s babies, all those who have been abducted,” he said.