Israel’s apparent decision to hold off on a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip and instead conduct more limited ground incursions, at least initially, aligns with suggestions that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made to his Israeli counterparts in recent days, the New York Times quoted American officials as saying.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Saturday evening that Israeli forces had entered the Gaza Strip on Friday to begin “the second stage of the war,” though he did not describe the move as an invasion. Military officials said earlier on Saturday that Israeli troops had pushed into the northern part of the enclave and remained there on Saturday evening.

Israel’s military announced it shot down a surface-to-air missile fired at an Israeli drone from Lebanon Saturday. It was not immediately clear if the missile was fired by Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Lebanese security officials said two missiles were fired toward an Israeli drone flying over Lebanon but did not hit the target.

US and Israeli officials have told U.S. TV network ABC News that Friday's ground incursion into Gaza was not a large-scale offensive.

The Israeli military released grainy images Saturday of tank columns moving slowly in open areas of Gaza and said warplanes bombed 150 Hamas tunnels and underground bunkers, signaling a further escalation in its campaign to crush the territory's ruling militant group after its bloody incursion in southern Israel three weeks ago.

Hamas meanwhile said it foiled a three-pronged ground attack and inflicted heavy casualties and damage on the advancing Israelis forces. Israel meanwhile said that its forces that entered into Gaza overnight were still in their positions inside the Strip.

Internet and phone services collapsed in the Gaza Strip under intensified bombardment Friday night, largely cutting off its 2.3 million people from the outside world and each other, as Israel’s military said it was “expanding” its ground operations in the besieged territory as of tonight.

Frequent explosions from airstrikes lit up the sky over Gaza City after nightfall Friday, when the black-out in internet, cellular and landline services hit. The Red Crescent said it lost all contact with its operations room and medical teams. It said it feared people would no longer be able to contact ambulance services. Other aid groups said they were unable to reach staff on the ground.

There are “rapid negotiations” to reach a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel through a Qatari mediation, Qatar’s Al-Jazeera TV reported on Friday.

The Gulf state has been engaged in intense diplomacy behind the scenes and secured the release of four hostages held by the Palestinian militants following their October 7 attack on Israel.

Hezbollah’s top lawmaker Mohammed Raad announced Friday that “victory is coming and imminent,” as Hezbollah launched fresh attacks on Israeli military posts on Lebanon’s border.

Hezbollah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Friday met with a delegation from the Iranian parliament.

According to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri are capable of preventing the Gaza war from spreading to Lebanon.

In a meeting Friday with French Ambassador Hervé Magro, Geagea stressed that a parliamentary recommendation or a governmental decision could spare Lebanon the trouble of war.

The Israeli army announced Friday that its northern front with Lebanon and Syria did not witness any incidents overnight, following a relatively calm day on Thursday.