Israel begins ground operation against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

Israel began on the night of this Monday (30) – the early hours of Tuesday (1 October) local time – a “limited and localized” ground operation within southern Lebanon against targets of the terrorist group Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation is “focused” on villages close to Lebanon’s border with the country. The ground incursion aims to neutralize direct threats to communities in northern Israel and Hezbollah attack points.

As the IDF explained, the operation was planned “for months” and approved by Israeli political leaders. It is part of the “Arrows of the North” operation, which aims to neutralize Hezbollah attacks that threaten Israeli civilians living in the north of the country. The IDF pointed out that the land incursion, where soldiers have already crossed the border by land with air and artillery support, does not mean a large-scale invasion against Lebanon, but rather a strategic response to eliminate Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure, which could be used in attacks against Israel.

“Israeli forces are carrying out surgical operations in villages close to the border, focused on neutralizing imminent threats that put communities in the north at risk,” said an Israeli army spokesman, according to information from the Associated Press (AP).

In the early hours of this Tuesday, according to the APthe operation began with bombings against Hezbollah targets, and Israeli troops advanced into small communities to destroy the Lebanese terrorist group’s positions along the border.

“The IDF is operating according to a methodical plan drawn up by the General Staff and Northern Command, for which IDF soldiers have trained and prepared in recent months,” the Israeli military statement said.