Israeli military forces have crossed the border into southern Lebanon to conduct “limited, localised, and targeted raids” against Hezbollah, marking the first time since 2006 that regular Israeli ground troops have entered Lebanese territory. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that the operation is aimed at Hezbollah locations in southern Lebanon, targeting stockpiles and weapons that pose an immediate threat to communities in northern Israel.
The Israeli military has refrained from specifying how deep its troops will venture into Lebanese territory or the expected duration of the operation. However, sources informed NBC News that the offensive is expected to be limited in both scope and duration, lasting days rather than weeks. The ground operation was announced at around 2 a.m. local time on Tuesday (midnight UK time), with the IDF confirming that its forces had “trained and prepared in recent months” for the mission.
In the days leading up to the ground incursion, Israel had launched small special forces operations into southern Lebanon, according to an Israeli official. The country also initiated shelling of border towns in southern Lebanon and issued evacuation warnings to civilians in Beirut’s southern suburbs. These warnings advised residents to leave specific buildings ahead of planned airstrikes on the capital.
Shortly after the IDF confirmed the presence of troops in southern Lebanon, a military statement revealed that approximately ten projectiles had been fired from Lebanon into Israel. While some were intercepted, others fell in open areas. The ongoing shelling along the border has intensified to the point that UN peacekeepers can no longer conduct patrols due to the “intensity of the rockets going back and forth,” according to a spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem warned that the group is ready for a protracted conflict, stating that the battle “may be long.” In response to the escalating violence, the Lebanese Army, which operates separately from Hezbollah, has pulled its troops from checkpoints near the border amid the ongoing shelling.
The situation has led to heightened concerns from the international community. The UK’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, reiterated calls for British nationals in Lebanon to leave the country, describing the situation as “volatile” with the potential to “deteriorate quickly.” The UK government has chartered a commercial flight out of Beirut to assist those wanting to leave, with departure scheduled for Wednesday.
The Lebanese health ministry has reported that more than 1,000 people have been killed across the country in the past two weeks due to Israeli airstrikes, and up to one million may now be displaced.
