UN peacekeepers in Lebanon issued a stark warning on Saturday about the risk of a "catastrophic" regional conflict, as Israeli forces continued to engage with Hezbollah and Hamas militants on two fronts during the Jewish calendar’s holiest day.

Israel has come under intense diplomatic criticism after incidents in southern Lebanon, where five UN peacekeepers, known as Blue Helmets, were wounded.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported on Saturday that Israeli air strikes on two villages near Beirut killed nine people. Earlier, Israel had warned residents of southern Lebanon not to return to their homes, as clashes with Hezbollah militants intensified. Since the conflict escalated on September 23, over 1,200 people have been killed, and more than a million have been displaced.

"For your own protection, do not return to your homes until further notice... Do not go south; anyone who goes south may put their life at risk," Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X.