An Israeli airstrike on a village in eastern Lebanon killed 12 people late Monday, according to Lebanese state media, as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continued to escalate.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported Tuesday that the strike targeted the village of Mashghara in the Bekaa Valley.

The attack came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had authorized more intensive military operations against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.

While the Israel Defense Forces did not specifically comment on the strike in Mashghara, it said Monday that it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in eastern Lebanon.

An Israeli security official, speaking anonymously in accordance with military regulations, said an additional battalion had been deployed to Lebanon as part of the expanding operations.

Rescue workers said at least 12 bodies were recovered from the rubble following a heavy overnight bombardment that struck areas across southern and eastern Lebanon.

The intensified fighting comes just days before Lebanese and Israeli military delegations are scheduled to hold direct talks in Washington.

Hezbollah has continued launching attacks against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and communities in northern Israel, saying it will maintain military operations until Israel halts its airstrikes and withdraws its forces from Lebanese territory.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah has claimed it is deploying new fiber-optic drones that Israeli defenses have struggled to intercept. The group says the drones have successfully targeted both Israeli military positions and northern border communities.

Amid the escalating violence, Israeli authorities have updated civilian safety guidelines in northern regions, warning residents to avoid large public gatherings because of the increased security threat.