Israel Launches Ground Incursion in Southern Lebanon

Israel launched ground operations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, escalating the ongoing conflict. Israeli troops, including elite paratroops and commandos from the 98th division, conducted targeted raids in Lebanese villages near the border. The raids, which began on Monday night, followed two weeks of intense airstrikes aimed at Hezbollah’s command and weapons sites.

Supported by air and artillery, Israeli forces engaged in localized operations to neutralize Hezbollah units deemed an immediate threat to northern Israeli communities. Israeli military officials described the operations as “limited and focused,” targeting strategic positions in southern Lebanon.

A Lebanese security source confirmed that Israeli units crossed the border for reconnaissance operations, prompting Lebanese troops to pull back from border positions. However, Lebanon’s army remained neutral, as it has in previous conflicts with Israel.

The escalation marks a new phase in the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, raising concerns of broader regional involvement. Hezbollah retaliated on Tuesday by firing rockets and artillery at Israeli positions across the border. Despite this, they did not acknowledge Israel’s ground incursion.

In southern Lebanon, towns like Aita al-Shaab experienced heavy shelling, with helicopters and drones overhead. Flares lit up the night sky as Israeli forces continued their operations. Meanwhile, in the Palestinian Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp near Sidon, an Israeli airstrike targeted a key commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a Palestinian militia.

In a related development, Israeli airstrikes in Syria killed three civilians in Damascus. Israel has intensified strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria since Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel. That assault left 1,200 Israelis dead and led to Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 41,300 Palestinians.

The conflict shows no signs of easing, with both sides escalating their military actions across multiple fronts.