Israel renewed its strikes on south Lebanon despite the Iran-backed Hezbollah group not claiming any operations since Tuesday at 2200 GMT.

Israel also renewed an evacuation order for an area inside Lebanon, saying “the battle in Lebanon is ongoing”.

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul has been in touch with his Israeli counterpart and “argued that Israel should only act in accordance with its right to self-defence” in Lebanon, a ministry spokesman said.

Pressed on whether this meant that Israel could occupy a part of southern Lebanon on a long-term basis, the spokesman said that how Israel should exercise its right to self-defence “could be seen in different ways”.

“It is incumbent on Israel to show that it is acting in accordance with the relevant law,” he said.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war after Hezbollah launched rocket fire on Israel following the death of Iran’s spiritual leader in Israeli-US strikes.

Israel then invaded and staged air raids across Lebanon that have killed more than 1,500 people, according to Lebanese authorities.