Israeli ground forces entered southern Lebanon on Monday evening, the Israeli Defense Force confirmed, in a significant escalation in the country’s conflict with Hezbollah militias that has been boiling for weeks.
“In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon,” the IDF confirmed in a statement. The military said these were located in villages close to the border with Israel.
“The IDF is operating according to a methodical plan set out by the General Staff and the Northern Command which IDF soldiers have trained and prepared for in recent months,”the statement continued.
The country’s air force and artillery are also supporting the incursion with targeted strikes in the region. The IDF said the operation in Lebanon will continue “in parallel to combat in Gaza and in other arenas.”
“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,” it said.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
