A senior US State Department official is calling on Israel to exercise restraint as the tit-for-tat attacks between the country's forces and the Lebanon-based Shia Muslim group Hezbollah escalate.

The official told reporters on Monday that the United States has been working hard recently to try to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Asked about the possibility of Israeli troops conducting a ground operation in Lebanon, the official said, "It is important for everyone to take Israeli preparation seriously."

The official went on to say that Washington does not believe Israel's ground invasion is going to help reduce tensions in the region or prevent the violence from escalating further.

The official said the situation is very challenging and complicated, but noted that the US has "concrete" ideas.

The official indicated that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is going to discuss the matter with foreign ministers and delegates from other countries who are attending the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.