Limited Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon aims to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure amid growing regional tensions.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched targeted ground raids into southern Lebanon late Monday, focusing on Hezbollah positions and infrastructure near the Israeli border. This limited operation, which began after the Israeli security cabinet approved an escalation in the conflict, marks a new phase in Israel’s efforts to neutralize the Lebanese militant group.
The IDF confirmed early Tuesday that its troops, supported by air and artillery units, were carrying out operations in several Lebanese villages along the Blue Line border. The goal is to eliminate Hezbollah positions that pose an immediate threat to Israeli towns. The raids are based on detailed plans developed by Israel’s General Staff and Northern Command, the military said.
Reports of Israeli forces crossing into Lebanon had circulated on social media and in Arabic outlets before the official confirmation. Lebanese troops reportedly pulled back several kilometers from the border in response to the operation, opting to remain on the sidelines, as they have done in previous conflicts with Israel.
Israeli officials informed their U.S. counterparts ahead of the incursion, emphasizing that the goal is to clear Hezbollah from the border region and create conditions for a diplomatic resolution. This would involve pushing Hezbollah’s forces beyond the Litani River, as stipulated by a United Nations Security Council resolution. U.S. officials have expressed understanding of the operation but voiced concerns over the potential for escalation.
Despite these concerns, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the necessity of dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure along the border during a phone call. Austin reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself while stressing that a diplomatic resolution is key to ensuring the safety of civilians on both sides of the border.
Meanwhile, the conflict has already displaced over 200,000 people in Lebanon, as Hezbollah continues to launch rockets into northern Israel. In response, the IDF has conducted repeated airstrikes across southern Lebanon and into Beirut, where Hezbollah maintains a significant presence. On Monday night, sirens blared across northern Israel as Hezbollah fired a new wave of rockets, which were mostly intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the IDF also struck several sites in Beirut’s southern suburb, a Hezbollah stronghold, after warning civilians to evacuate. Lebanese media reported multiple explosions, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
The raids come two weeks after Israel intensified its military campaign against Hezbollah as part of Operation Northern Arrows. The Israeli military has already conducted numerous airstrikes, culminating in the death of long-time Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah after his underground bunker was bombed in Beirut.
Amid rising tensions, European countries have begun evacuating their citizens from Lebanon. Germany, Bulgaria, and the UK are among those arranging flights to remove diplomats and other nationals from the region as the conflict threatens to expand further.
With fighting intensifying along the Lebanon-Israel border, the IDF remains committed to its goal of removing Hezbollah’s presence in the south, while world powers continue to call for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution to the ongoing hostilities.
(Associated Medias) – All rights reserved