Israel has notified the United States it intends to launch a limited ground incursion into Lebanon, US officials said.

The operation could start as soon as Monday, an official told the BBC’s US partner CBS.

Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant earlier implied the army was ready for a ground incursion, telling troops near the Lebanese border Israel was prepared to use forces “from the air, sea, and land” to target Hezbollah.

The Lebanese army is pulling back troops stationed on its southern border to at least 5km (3 miles) north, according to Reuters news agency, which cited a Lebanese security source.