The Israeli military has begun raids against Hezbollah in the border area of southern Lebanon.
In a statement published on X, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the “limited, localised and targeted ground raids” were based on “precise intelligence” against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure in villages close to the border.
The IDF said they pose an “immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel”.
The Israeli air force and artillery were supporting ground forces with precise strikes on military targets, the statement said.
The raids follow huge blasts that were heard in Lebanon’s capital early on Tuesday, with the Israeli military carrying out strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, security sources said.
Israel vows to use ‘all means required’
Speaking earlier, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant told local council heads in northern Israel that the next phase of the war along Lebanon’s southern border would begin soon, and would support the aim of bringing home Israelis who have fled Hezbollah rockets during nearly a year of border warfare.
He also told troops: “We will use all the means that may be required – your forces, other forces, from the air, from the sea, and on land. Good luck.”
Lebanese troops pulled back from positions along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel to about 5km north of the border, a Lebanese security source told Reuters.
A Lebanese army spokesperson did not confirm or deny the movement.
The assassination of — was one of the heaviest blows in decades to both Hezbollah and Iran.
After two weeks of intensive airstrikes and a string of assassinations of Hezbollah commanders, Israel has suggested ever more strongly that a land invasion is looming.
Hezbollah ‘ready for a ground engagement’
Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem, in a first public speech since Israeli airstrikes killed Nasrallah, said that “the resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement”.
As he spoke, Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon continued, extending a campaign that has eliminated several Hezbollah commanders but also killed about 1,000 civilians and forced one million to flee their homes, according to the Lebanese government.
The death toll from an Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese town of Ain Deleb rose to 45, Lebanon’s health ministry said on Monday.
Lebanon’s army has historically stayed on the sidelines of major conflicts with Israel, and in the last year of hostilities has not fired on the Israeli military.
As speculation grew that the ground operation was imminent, an Israeli military spokesperson issued a statement on social media platform X, telling Israelis not to “spread irresponsible rumours” about troop movements and activities.
US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Israel had told the US it is conducting limited ground operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon near the border.
Israel last week rejected a to give time for a diplomatic settlement that would allow displaced civilians on both sides to return home.
