Hezbollah says it is launching a new phase in the war against Israel

(Patria) - Lebanese Hezbollah said on Thursday it is launching a new phase in its war against Israel, stating it used precision-guided missiles against Israeli troops for the first time, AFP reported.

Israel has been striking southern and eastern Lebanon, areas where Hezbollah holds sway, since the all-out war erupted on September 23. In Lebanese border villages, rivals have engaged in close-quarters fighting after Israel launched a ground invasion last month.

Hezbollah "announces the transition to a new and escalating phase in the conflict with the Israeli enemy, which will be reflected in developments and events in the coming days," the group's statement said.

The announcement came after the Israeli military said on Thursday its forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah.

The statement, however, does not mention the Hamas chief. It states that "hundreds of fighters...are fully prepared to confront any Israeli ground incursion into southern Lebanese villages," noting that attacks on Israel have intensified in recent days. It said rocket strikes continue to "escalate day by day," with "precision-guided...deployed for the first time."

Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut on September 27. Israel seeks to push Hezbollah away from the border to ensure its citizens can return to their homes in northern Israel.

Earlier on Thursday, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the Israeli military does not fully control any village in southern Lebanon.