Israel tells its troops to prepare for a possible ground operation in Lebanon

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel is preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon, its army chief said Wednesday as Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets across the border and a missile aimed at Tel Aviv that was the militant group's deepest strike yet.

Addressing troops on the northern border, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said Israel's punishing airstrikes this week were designed to ”prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah.”

The U.S., France and other allies jointly called for an “immediate” 21-day cease-fire in the conflict that has killed more than 600 people to “provide space for diplomacy.”

Their joint statement, negotiated on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, said the fighting was “intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation.” Other signatories include the European Union, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.