JERUSALEM 

The Israeli army on Wednesday announced deploying another division to join its ground operation in southern Lebanon.

A military statement said the 36th Division including its elite Golani Brigades and the 188th Armored Brigade joins the 98th Division in the ground incursion in southern Lebanon, which was announced on Tuesday.

Earlier, Hezbollah said its fighters clashed with an Israeli infantry force trying to infiltrate the town of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon, marking the first direct clash between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces since Israel announced the invasion.

The Lebanese group said it inflicted losses and forced Israeli forces to retreat.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's war on Gaza last October.

Israel launched heavy airstrikes against what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon two weeks ago, killing more than a 1,000 people and displacing tens of thousands. It also assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other commanders, raising tensions in the region.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar