Israel has announced that it began a ground invasion in Lebanon early on Tuesday as its troops began 'limited raids' against Hezbollah targets. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) made the announcement soon after the security cabinet approved the ground raids focused on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanese villages that posed "an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel".
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had told on Monday that Israel would put its ground troops in Lebanon in the next phase of the war soon to bring home Israelis who have fled Hezbollah rockets during nearly a year of border warfare.
"In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localised, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel," the IDF statement read.
Skies of Beirut are blood red as Israel’s ground incursion kicks off tonight
— TheArmchairAnalyst (@Sitting_Analyst) September 30, 2024
Lebanon under full scale military bombardment by the Israeli army
We are now at a full blown regional war involving multiple nations and territories on the ground pic.twitter.com/tgLjmRAJgi
Air and artillery forces are assisting the ground forces, which set in motion the invasion by entering the Hezbollah tunnels dug near the Blue Line separating Israel from Lebanon.
Hours before the troops went in, Israel sent a fresh warning urging residents in Dahieh - the Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs - to evacuate. It followed the warning with a series of airstrikes on Beirut.
Israel has already informed its ally, the US, about the limited raid, which also intends to create conditions for a diplomatic agreement under which Hezbollah forces would be pushed back beyond the Litani River, in line with UN Security Council resolution, reported The Times of Israel. The operation is also limited in both time and scope and was not intended to occupy southern Lebanon, the report added.
The IDF's new phase has sparked fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran-backed militants.
Though there is no official confirmation from the Lebanese side, reports state that the Lebanese troops pulled back about five kilometres (3 miles) from positions along Lebanon's southern border with Israel. Lebanon's army often stays on the sidelines, as it has historically done in major conflicts with Israel. They have not fired on the Israeli military anytime during the period.
