Early on Tuesday, Israel’s military announced that its forces had conducted “targeted ground raids” on villages in southern Lebanon, backed by air strikes and artillery. These raids focused on Hezbollah positions near the Israeli border and were described as “limited, localized, and targeted” operations.

Air strikes were reported in Beirut, with smoke rising from southern suburbs, known Hezbollah strongholds. This escalation comes after Israeli political leaders approved the ground incursion, marking a significant phase in Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah.

In response, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted Israeli troops with artillery fire in the border area of Metula, though it did not comment on Israel’s ground operations. Despite the rising tensions, there have been no direct reports of clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters, who last engaged in ground combat during the 2006 war.

Hezbollah had been launching low-intensity strikes on northern Israel since Israel’s war on Gaza in October. Recently, Israel shifted focus to its northern front with Lebanon, aiming to neutralize Hezbollah threats and allow Israeli civilians to return home.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced Israel’s confidence in its ability to confront threats across the region, warning Iran that there is “nowhere in the Middle East Israel cannot reach.” However, some Israeli analysts remain cautious, emphasizing the challenges of controlling the situation based on past experiences.

The ground offensive appears to have been coordinated with the United States, despite earlier calls from Washington for restraint. Both countries have agreed on the need to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure along the border to prevent attacks on northern Israel.

As the situation escalates, tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border. Over the past two weeks, more than 1,000 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes, mostly in southern and eastern Lebanon, as Israel targets Hezbollah’s leadership. Despite the losses, Hezbollah continues to launch rockets and missiles at Israeli targets, signaling its readiness for a prolonged conflict.