UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned the broadening of the Middle East conflict.

"I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation," the UN chief said in a brief statement.

"This must stop," Guterres said, adding, "We absolutely need a ceasefire."

Israel's military announced late Monday that it had launched "a focused and limited" ground campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said Monday night that 95 people were killed and 172 others injured over the past 24 hours in Israeli airstrikes on different areas in Lebanon.

In Syria's capital Damascus, explosions were heard across the city as news was emerging about Israeli forces beginning a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.