Israel has initiated ground operations in Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in its ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. This development comes after two weeks of intense airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s command structure and weapon caches. The Israeli military announced that operations commenced on Monday night, involving elite forces, including paratroopers and commandos from the 98th division, who had been redeployed to the northern front after months of engagement in Gaza.
The Israeli military’s operations are characterized as “limited, localized, and targeted ground raids” aimed at Hezbollah in southern Lebanese villages. Israel has identified these areas as posing an immediate threat to its northern communities. Reports indicate that in just the last 24 hours, Israeli strikes have led to at least 95 fatalities and 172 injuries across various regions, including southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Israel’s claims of success against Hezbollah include the reported assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, last week, which has been described as a turning point in the conflict. Despite these achievements, Israel has indicated its intention for a broader invasion of Lebanon, primarily to facilitate the safe return of thousands of its citizens who had fled due to Hezbollah rocket fire.
A Lebanese security source relayed that Israeli units conducted reconnaissance operations by crossing into Lebanon overnight. Meanwhile, Lebanese troops have reportedly pulled back from their positions along the border, though the Lebanese army has not confirmed this movement. Historically, the Lebanese army has maintained a non-combative stance during significant conflicts with Israel.
The intensification of ground operations has heightened tensions in the region, involving not only Israel and Hezbollah but also potentially drawing in other regional powers like the US and Iran. Local residents in border areas have reported heavy shelling and the sound of military aircraft, contributing to an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
Hezbollah responded to the Israeli incursions by targeting Israeli forces in Metula with artillery and rocket fire. Additionally, an Israeli strike early Tuesday targeted Mounir Maqdah, a commander of the Palestinian Fatah movement, in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, marking a notable escalation in hostilities.
In Syria, the repercussions of the conflict continue, with three civilians reported dead and nine injured in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus. Israel’s military actions against Iranian-linked targets in Syria have ramped up significantly since Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in extensive retaliatory measures in Gaza.
The recent ground operations in Lebanon are part of a broader strategy that has seen Israeli forces eliminate numerous Hezbollah commanders, but they have also resulted in significant civilian casualties and mass displacements. With the situation evolving rapidly, Hezbollah’s deputy leader has expressed the group’s readiness for ground combat, while international reactions, including calls for ceasefire from the US, highlight the ongoing complexity of the conflict.
