The Israeli military has launched widely expected ground operations in souther♛n Lebanon, which marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. Early Tuesday, the military announced the commencement of "limited, localized, and targeted ground raids" against Hezbollah positions in villages near the Israeli border, citing immediate threats to northern Israeli communities.
Supporting these ground forces, the Israeli air force and artillery have conducted "precise strikes," with local residꦐents reporting heavy shelling and the presence of helicopters and drones in the border area. Flares in the night sky over the Lebanese town of Rmeish indicated heightened military activity.
Israeli Defence Forces announced the beginning of the ground operation on X on Tuesday. They stated, "In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. These targets are located in villages close to theಌ border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel."
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had indicated the planned escalation during a meeting with local council heads in northern Israel on Monday, aiming to address the ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah and ensure the safety of residents who have been affected by nearly a year of border c𓂃lashes.
