Israel's ongoing military strikes in Lebanon send a "clear message" to Hezbollah, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday, accusing the Iran-backed Islamist group of seeking to rebuild its forces in violation of a ceasefire agreement.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon's Bekaa region on Tuesday killed 12 people, the region's governor Bachir Khodr told Reuters, in the deadliest airstrikes since last year's truce ended months of fighting between Israel and the armed group Hezbollah.

Under the November ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah was required to pull its fighters back to the north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border. Only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers are allowed in the area.