Israel Strengthens Military Presence in Lebanon, Promises Retaliation for Iranian Attack, Reports Reuters

By Steven Scheer, Parisa Hafezi, and Maya Gebeily

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT – The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it was deploying regular infantry and armored units to join ground operations in Lebanon, intensifying pressure on Hezbollah while preparing to respond to recent Iranian missile strikes.

Currently engaged in conflict with Hamas in Gaza, Israel is increasing its military presence in southern Lebanon just a day after an attack attributed to Iran. This escalation has raised concerns that the ongoing tensions in the Middle East could escalate into a broader conflict.

Iran declared that its recent assault on Israel was significant and warned it would not proceed with further actions unless provoked, while both Israel and the United States signaled their intentions to retaliate.

Fighting along the Israeli-Lebanese border persisted on Wednesday. The inclusion of infantry and armored troops from Israel’s 36th Division, including the renowned Golani Brigade and 188th Armoured Brigade, indicates that military operations might go beyond limited commando raids.

The Israeli military stated that its ground operations primarily focus on dismantling tunnels and other infrastructure along the border, asserting there are no plans for a comprehensive assault on Beirut or other major southern cities. The military issued evacuation orders for approximately two dozen towns situated along the southern border.

Hezbollah reported that it was engaged in clashes with Israeli troops in the border town of Maroun el-Ras, claiming to have driven back Israeli forces and launched rockets at military installations within Israel.

Israel resumed airstrikes early Wednesday morning on southern Beirut, known as a Hezbollah stronghold, with more than a dozen airstrikes targeting what it identified as Hezbollah-associated sites. According to Lebanon’s telecommunications minister, a cellular transmission tower was destroyed during the attack.

Despite calls for a ceasefire from the international community, including the United Nations and the European Union, hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have continued. Nearly 1,900 individuals have lost their lives, and over 9,000 have been injured in Lebanon due to nearly a year of cross-border fighting, with casualties escalating in recent weeks. More than a million people have been displaced from their homes.

Malika Joumaa, a Sudanese refugee, sought shelter in Saint Joseph’s church in Beirut after fleeing her home near Sidon with her husband and children. She expressed gratitude for the church’s assistance, stating that without it, her family would be forced to sleep in unsafe conditions.

Concerns about further violence are growing. Iran’s state news agency reported that three Israeli military bases had been targeted in recent strikes, with an advisor to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirming that a cyber operation accompanied the missile strikes.

Iran’s military leadership warned that any Israeli retaliation would be met with significant destruction of Israeli infrastructure. The Iranian foreign minister stated that while the recent attack was concluded, further Israeli aggression would provoke a stronger response.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to retaliate, asserting that no location in Iran is out of reach. U.S. reports suggest that a retaliatory strike against Iranian oil production facilities and strategic sites could occur within days.

Social media users in Iran expressed concern about potential consequences of retaliatory strikes, recalling past conflicts that led to significant suffering.

The escalation of Iranian missile attacks and Israeli operations in Lebanon has drawn global alarm, as Iran’s regional proxies—including Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed groups in Iraq—continue their support for Hamas.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Iran and Hezbollah to cease their attacks on Israel, cautioning that Tehran risks destabilizing the entire region. Russia has also noted the alarming direction of the conflict, while Japan has expressed deep concern about the developments.

Iran asserted that Tuesday’s assaults were in response to Israeli measures against militant leaders, including attacks on Hezbollah and in Gaza, exacerbating the ongoing tensions in the region.

The United States has indicated a commitment to work closely with Israel to ensure that Iran faces severe repercussions for its recent missile strikes, which Israel claims involved over 180 ballistic missiles. Israeli forces activated their air defenses in response, intercepting many of the incoming missiles according to the Israeli military.