Israel has begun ground incursions into southern Lebanon, as confirmed by the Israeli Army in an official announcement in the early hours of Tuesday morning. “The Army began a few hours ago a targeted and demarcated ground operation in southern Lebanon,” according to a statement by the Israeli Army spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
An artillery barrage provided cover for the Israeli ground forces, while Israeli fighter jets conducted intensive raids on several areas in the southern part of the country.
The Israeli Army had pinpointed villages near the border as imminent threats to Israeli settlements in the northern part of the country. This move echoes a prior statement by US officials, who noted that Israeli forces had launched limited ground actions directed at Hezbollah.
The 98th Division, which led the raids in the Gaza Strip, was diverted to the north in the last month and is the division carrying out the incursion, according to the Israeli Army.
Intense shelling into Lebanon was ongoing, with areas like Marjayoun, Wazzani, and Khiam coming under fire on Monday night.