Israel launches ‘limited’ ground operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon

Israel began a “limited” ground operation in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, in a significant escalation of its conflict against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a post on X that they were conducting “localized and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure” in villages close to the Israel-Lebanon border.

The decision to send troops into Lebanon begins a new phase of the conflict, and comes after intense Israeli bombing that on Friday killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in southern Beirut. It came in response to Hezbollah’s campaign of cross-border strikes on Israel, which began a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas staged its deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Israel’s strikes on Lebanon have killed other high-ranking Hezbollah figures and targeted its stockpiled weapons, dealing a major blow to the Lebanon-based group. Hundreds of others have been killed in the air strikes and many more displaced.

The IDF said its ground operation is aimed at targets “located in villages close to the border and [which] pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.” The plan — which will be supported by air strikes and artillery — has been in preparation for months. The IDF gave no details about how long it would last.

“The IDF is continuing to operate to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes,” the statement said.

This story is being updated.