Urgent: Hezbollah says clashes ongoing with Israeli forces in southern Lebanon town of Khiam

BEIRUT, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Hezbollah announced that its fighters have been engaged in direct clashes with Israeli forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam since 21:20 local time (1920 GMT) on Saturday.

The group said in a statement that its militants are using light and medium weapons alongside rocket-propelled grenades, adding that the fighting was ongoing at the time of the release.

The exchange marks a significant escalation in cross-border hostilities, which have intensified since the launch of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. ■