France, Oct. 1 -- A French navy ship departed from southeastern France on Monday, heading toward the Lebanese coast as a precautionary measure to potentially evacuate French citizens. This as Israeli ground forces crossed into southern Lebanon on Tuesday to carry out "targeted raids" against Hezbollah positions.

The shipwill take "5 to 6 days" to reach the area in the eastern Mediterranean from the port of Toulon, according to army officials.

The vessel is equipped with helicopters and an onboard battle group, ready to be deployed if an evacuation of French nationals becomes necessary.

"We are strengthening our resources to deal with a deterioration of the situation," a senior officer of the armed forces told French news agency AFP, ad...