U.N. officials voiced concern on Tuesday that the same methods of warfare used by Israel that caused high civilian casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza are now being repeated in Lebanon, calling for action to avoid the same "spiral of doom".

UN officials warn urgent action is needed to prevent the escalating conflict in Lebanon from spiralling into a similar scene of devastation

Israel appeared to label much of northern Gaza as an evacuation zone and in Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds, as the region also braced for Israel to hit back at Iran.

As the Middle East marks a year since the deadly Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, Israel is locked in a multi-front war with no clear end, sending troops back to northern Gaza and keeping up intense aerial attacks and a limited ground maneuver in Lebanon.

The health ministry says the strike hit a municipal building in Bint Jbeil, as firefighters prepared to "embark on rescue missions".