Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned the Lebanon-based Shia militant group Hezbollah, saying starting a war with Israel could have disastrous consequences.

Netanyahu visited troops deployed in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Sunday.

The border area has seen sporadic fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The group has unleashed a series of rocket attacks in support of the Islamic group Hamas, which launched a massive attack on Israel on October 7.

The fighting has left eight people dead in Israel and at least 30 on the Lebanese side.

The prime minister told the troops that Israel is "in a double battle."

Netanyahu said, "If Hezbollah decides to enter the war... it will be making the mistake of its life."

He went on to say that Israel will strike the group "with a force that it cannot even imagine." He added, "We are ready for any scenario."

The Israeli government is urging about 40,000 residents living within 5 kilometers of the border with Lebanon to evacuate.

As Israel gears up for a large-scale ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, the country could face the tough challenge of fighting on two fronts if Hezbollah gets involved. The group is said to have a more powerful military force than Hamas.