Israel’s Ground Invasion of Lebanon Begins with ‘Limited’ Raids on Hezbollah, Reports Reuters

By Timour Azhari

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The anticipated ground invasion by Israel into Lebanon seemed to be commencing early Tuesday, as the military announced that troops had initiated "limited" operations against Hezbollah targets near the border.

In a statement, the military specified that its operations were aimed at villages close to the border that presented "an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel." It noted that artillery and air force units were providing support to ground operations through "precise strikes."

Residents in the Lebanese border town of Aita al-Shaab reported intense shelling, accompanied by the sounds of helicopters and drones in the sky.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant indicated on Monday that the next phase of the conflict along Lebanon’s southern border would soon begin, aimed at assisting Israelis who have fled from Hezbollah rocket attacks during a prolonged period of border warfare.

The recent death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a key figure in Tehran’s "Axis of Resistance" against Israeli and U.S. interests in the region, was struck by Israeli forces on Friday, marking a significant blow to both Hezbollah and its Iranian backers.

This development followed two weeks of heavy airstrikes that reportedly eliminated several Hezbollah commanders, but also resulted in approximately 1,000 civilian deaths and displaced about one million people, according to the Lebanese government.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported early Tuesday that at least 95 individuals were killed and 172 others wounded in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours, which targeted Lebanon’s southern regions, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and Beirut.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem delivered his first public address since Nasrallah’s death on Monday, asserting that "the resistance forces are prepared for a ground engagement."

The Israeli attacks on militant targets in Lebanon are part of an escalating conflict that extends from the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank to Iranian-backed factions in Yemen and Iraq. This escalation has raised concerns regarding potential involvement from the United States and Iran in the ongoing hostilities.