Israeli launches ‘localized’ ground strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

Heavy Israeli strikes targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after launching “limited” and “localized” ground operations in the Lebanese capital, according to local media reports.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the start of the ground operation in a post on X, “According to a decision at the political level, a few hours ago, the IDF launched limited, localized and targeted ground strikes on precise surveillance of Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon.”

The IDF explained that the operations focused on targets located in villages near the border that pose an “immediate threat” to northern Israeli communities.

Before the attacks, Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings to Lebanese residents of Haret Hreek, Mrijeh and Lailaki, urging them to leave the areas immediately.

The Israelis said the operations were part of a well-coordinated strategy planned by the General Staff and the Northern Command, which IDF soldiers have been training and preparing for over the past several months. “The Israeli Air Force and IDF artillery are supporting ground forces with precision strikes on military targets in the region,” the post added.

The Israeli security forces insisted that the operations were approved in accordance with political orders and that Operation ‘Northern Arrows’ would continue based on situational assessments in parallel with the ongoing fighting in Gaza and other theaters of conflict.

“The IDF continues to work to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to protect Israeli civilians and bring northern Israeli civilians back to their homes,” the post concluded.

Since September 23, Israel has intensified airstrikes across Lebanon, with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and several of his associates reportedly killed in a significant strike on Friday in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The escalation escalated ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which began on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, prompting retaliatory Israeli artillery fire and airstrikes in southeastern Lebanon.