Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli military to strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon “with force”, according to a statement from his office issued on Sunday.

The order followed exchanges of fire across the border, with Hezbollah launching rockets and drones toward northern Israel and Israeli forces south of the Litani river.

Hezbollah has said its operations are in response to what it describes as “violations of a ceasefire arrangement”.

In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said the military had been instructed to act against Hezbollah positions in Lebanon following the latest attacks.

The escalation came after the Lebanese health ministry reported that four people were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon earlier in the day.

It said “two strikes by the Israeli enemy, against a truck and a motorcycle” in the Nabatiyeh region resulted in the fatalities.

A day earlier, six people were reported killed in Lebanon, in what local officials described as the deadliest day since the ceasefire came into effect.

Hezbollah continues to carry out near-daily attacks against Israeli positions in southern Lebanon, while Israel says its operations are in response to ongoing cross-border fire.