Israeli forces launched a series of ground raids in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, targeting Hezbollah positions in what Israeli officials described as a “localized” incursion supported by airstrikes and artillery. The raids mark the latest escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, as both sides intensify their actions along the volatile northern border.
The Israeli military said its elite 98th Division, which had been stationed in Gaza before redeployment to the northern front, spearheaded the operation. The raids come days after intense Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, including the reported assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week, although Hezbollah has not confirmed his death.
Israeli officials described the current ground operations as focused on dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in southern Lebanese villages near the border. “Hezbollah turned Lebanese villages next to Israeli villages into military bases ready for an attack on Israel,” said Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson.
Local residents in southern Lebanon fled the area as Israeli airstrikes inched closer to civilian areas, sources told Reuters. Meanwhile, Hezbollah launched rocket and artillery attacks on Israeli military positions, with Israel’s ambulance service reporting that one person was injured by shrapnel from missile strikes in central Israel.
Israel has issued warnings to Lebanese civilians, advising those located between the Litani River and the southern border to avoid movement, as the Israeli military aims to clear Hezbollah forces from that region. While Israel emphasized that the raids are aimed specifically at Hezbollah, Lebanese officials have expressed alarm over the growing civilian toll. Lebanese authorities estimate that over one million people have been displaced by the violence, with more than 1,100 killed.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, speaking at a meeting with United Nations officials and international donors, warned that his country is facing one of the most dangerous periods in its history. Lebanon has appealed for over $400 million in emergency aid to cope with the crisis.
Despite the intensifying conflict, Israel has signaled its readiness for a full-scale invasion of southern Lebanon, stating its objective is to secure the area so that thousands of Israeli citizens displaced by Hezbollah’s rocket attacks can safely return to their homes near the northern border. However, residents in Lebanon, like Abu Alaa from the southern city of Sidon, have voiced strong opposition, promising that “all of Lebanon” would resist any further Israeli incursions.
Tensions remain high as both sides prepare for further escalation, with the prospect of a larger conflict looming.
