Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have commenced “targeted” ground operations inside Lebanon on Tuesday, according to official statements.
Israeli officials have informed the U.S. that this incursion is intended to be limited in scope, scale, and duration, aiming to push Hezbollah forces further away from the Israeli border.
Following the assassination of influential Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Israel has expanded its military actions against Iran-backed militant groups throughout the region.
The IDF has also conducted small-scale special forces operations in southern Lebanon as part of the preparations for a possible broader ground offensive.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant indicated that “the next phase in the war against Hezbollah will begin soon.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning directed at Iran, stating that there is “nowhere in the Middle East beyond Israel’s reach” shortly after the elimination of Hezbollah's leader.
In related news, the chief of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) denied knowledge of its employee Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin’s role as a Hamas commander in Lebanon. Earlier reports confirmed the deaths of the Hamas leader in Lebanon and his family in an Israeli strike.
President Joe Biden emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire when asked about Israel’s plans to invade Lebanon. “I’m more aware than you might know, and I’m comfortable with them stopping,” he told reporters at the White House.
The IDF has stated that the ground incursion into Lebanon is aimed at protecting Israeli citizens residing along the border.
The operation is characterised as “limited, localised, and targeted,” based on precise intelligence regarding Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
While U.S. officials have not independently confirmed the operation, the timing aligns with Israeli notifications about its plans.
Currently, there has been no indication of movement of assets or equipment in Iran that would suggest an imminent response from Tehran.
Nevertheless, Iran remains positioned to respond rapidly if it decides to take action, although it has communicated to the U.S. that it does not seek a broader conflict.