The European Union's foreign ministers have called for an "immediate ceasefire" between Hezbollah and Israel amid reports Israel has launched small raids into Lebanon ahead of an imminent ground invasion, Paralel.Az reports citing Euronews.

"The sovereignty of both Israel and Lebanon has to be guaranteed and any further military intervention would dramatically aggravate the situation and has to be avoided," the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement following emergency talks between the bloc's foreign ministers.

"We are very much concerned about the risk of this further escalation of the conflict across the region, and urge all parties in the region to show restraint in the interest of de-escalation."

"Arms should now be silent and the voice of diplomacy should speak and be heard by all," Borrell added.