Israel has announced the launch of a ground operation in southern Lebanon

The Israel Defence Forces announced on Monday that it had launched a “targeted ground operation against key targets” in southern Lebanon. Additional units were deployed to the area as part of an expansion of the buffer zone after the Hezbollah group began attacking Israel earlier this month amid the US-Israel war against Iran, reports the Times of Israel.

According to military sources, the 91st Regional Brigade ‘Galil’ launched a raid in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon late on Saturday. During the operation, troops encountered several Hezbollah militants and neutralised them.

The Israel Defence Forces stated that the operation is aimed at expanding the ‘forward defence zone’.

A military statement said the operation was part of efforts to establish a forward defence. It involves destroying terrorist infrastructure and eliminating militants operating in the area to remove threats and create an additional layer of security for residents of the north of the country.

Prior to the ground forces entering the area, the IDF carried out large-scale air strikes and artillery bombardments, which, according to the military, were aimed at eliminating threats.

The 146th Reserve Division remains in the western sector of southern Lebanon. The 36th Division is conducting a raid in the eastern sector.

Israel is preparing to deploy additional forces in southern Lebanon and further expand the buffer zone to push Hezbollah’s threat away from the border.

A number of reports have also mentioned the possible preparation of a large-scale ground operation in southern Lebanon aimed at eliminating the Hezbollah group. Defence Minister Israel Katz previously stated that there was a possibility of seizing territory in this area.

In recent days, there have also been reports of the possibility of direct talks between Israel and the Lebanese government. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denied such plans, despite reports citing Israeli officials.

According to the Israel Defence Forces, since 2 March, when Hezbollah began attacking Israel in response to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the group has been firing approximately 100 rockets a day. Over a hundred drones have also been deployed during this period.

The military noted that most of the attacks are being carried out from deep within southern Lebanon, rather than from areas near the border.

These attacks followed a period of relative calm that had set in after the ceasefire agreement in November 2024. At that time, the previous phase of hostilities, which had begun following Hezbollah’s attack on Israel on 8 October 2023, had largely ceased.

On the night of Sunday to Monday, the Israel Defence Forces announced a new wave of air strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut. The military did not provide further details.

Earlier, the Israeli military had reiterated evacuation warnings for several districts in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which are considered a Hezbollah stronghold.

During the night and on Monday morning, air raid sirens sounded in the Galilee region amid rocket fire from the group.

No reports of casualties have been received.