US says Israel's ground offensive in Lebanon not imminent

An Israeli ground operation inside Lebanon does not appear "imminent," the Pentagon said Wednesday, after Israel's army chief told troops to prepare for a possible ground offensive against Hezbollah.

"It doesn't look like something is imminent," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told journalists in reference to a possible Israeli incursion into Lebanon.

"We certainly don't want to see any action taken that could lead to further escalation in the region," Singh said, adding that "we want to see a diplomatic resolution and a solution to prevent an all-out war."

Israel has pounded Lebanon with hundreds of strikes in recent days, and its air raids on Monday killed at least 558 people -- the deadliest day of violence since Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said operations will not stop until northern Israeli residents displaced by almost a year of near-daily attacks by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah can safely return to their homes.