Israeli Ground Raids Target Hezbollah as Rocket Strikes Prompt Civilian Restrictions
Israel launched targeted ground raids on Hezbollah positions near the Lebanon border, backed by air and artillery, marking the start of a ground incursion amid escalating tensions after the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah
Early Tuesday, the Israeli military launched “limited, localized, and targeted ground raids” against Hezbollah positions near the Israel-Lebanon border. These raids, backed by air and artillery support, mark the start of a long-anticipated ground incursion aimed at neutralizing immediate threats to northern Israeli communities. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that its paratroops and elite 98th division, redeployed from Gaza, were involved in the operations.
Israeli military spokespersons emphasized that the raids targeted Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanese villages identified as posing a direct threat to Israel. According to two Lebanese security sources, Israeli units crossed into Lebanon overnight for reconnaissance and probing operations. Lebanese troops reportedly pulled back from positions along the border as intense fighting erupted in the area. Helicopters and drones were observed overhead, and heavy shelling was reported by residents in Lebanese towns such as Aita al-Shaab.
Hezbollah responded by launching rocket and artillery attacks against Israeli forces stationed within Israel but did not acknowledge Israeli forces operating within Lebanon. The Iranian-backed group’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, warned that Hezbollah’s “resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement.” Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets deep into Israeli territory, escalating the already volatile situation.
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The fighting follows a devastating series of Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah, including the assassination of the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, last week. Nasrallah, who had turned Hezbollah into Lebanon’s most powerful military and political force, was a key figure in Iran’s network of allied groups across the Middle East. His death dealt a significant blow to Hezbollah but has also heightened tensions across the region.
Despite its success in eliminating top Hezbollah leaders, Israel has signaled its readiness for a broader ground invasion of Lebanon. The IDF’s stated goal is to create conditions that allow thousands of Israeli citizens who fled Hezbollah rocket attacks to safely return to their communities near the northern border. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reiterated this aim in recent remarks, pledging to use “all means” necessary to secure the region.
the rising conflict, the IDF Home Front Command has issued new restrictions for civilians in northern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and several other key areas, following a Hezbollah rocket attack on central Israel. Educational activities and workplaces are permitted to remain open only if adequate shelters are nearby, with restrictions on gatherings limiting outdoor activities to 30 people and indoor gatherings to 300.
Beaches in the affected areas will be closed, and the new guidelines will remain in place until after the Jewish New Year holiday. Despite the heightened tensions, no changes have been made to operations at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, and Israeli airspace remains open.
