Israeli ground forces advance in Southern Lebanon as regional conflict escalates
Israeli ground forces moved deeper into southern Lebanon on Tuesday, as Israel expanded military operations linked to the escalating confrontation with Iran and Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said troops from the 91st “Galilee” Division were operating at several points near the Lebanese border as part of what it described as an “enhanced forward defense posture,” calling the deployment a tactical measure rather than a broader ground invasion.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he had authorized the army to seize additional positions to prevent attacks on Israeli border communities. The military said it was continuing strikes on Hezbollah targets and would not allow harm to Israeli civilians.
Israel also issued evacuation warnings to residents of dozens of villages in southern Lebanon, ordering them to move at least one kilometer away from their homes ahead of planned strikes.
Hezbollah said it targeted three Israeli military bases, including Ramat David air base and the Meron base in northern Israel, using drones and rockets in response to Israeli attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs and other areas. The Israeli military said several projectiles were intercepted and no injuries were reported.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs and southern Lebanon killed 31 people and injured 149 on Monday. Strikes continued on Tuesday, including an attack on the headquarters of Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV in Beirut.
Separately, the Israeli military said it carried out simultaneous large-scale airstrikes on targets in Tehran and Beirut. Israeli officials said operations against Iran could continue for weeks.
The escalation comes amid widening hostilities between Israel and Iran, with both sides exchanging drone and missile strikes in recent days, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.
