Israel Begins Ground Operations in Lebanon Amid Hezbollah Conflict
Israel has launched ground operations in Lebanon, escalating its conflict with Hezbollah after two weeks of heavy airstrikes. The Israeli military said its forces entered southern Lebanon on Monday night, focusing on Hezbollah positions that it claimed posed immediate threats to Israel.
Israel Targets Hezbollah Strongholds
The 98th division, consisting of elite paratroopers and commandos, led the ground raids, supported by air and artillery units. The troops conducted local, targeted operations in villages near the Lebanese-Israeli border. Israel claims these areas housed Hezbollah fighters who had launched rockets into northern Israel.
In the past day, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 95 people and wounded 172 in southern Lebanon and Beirut, according to the Lebanese health ministry.
Hezbollah’s Retaliation
Hezbollah responded by firing rockets into Israel, with reports indicating two attacks in the border town of Metula. However, Hezbollah did not comment directly on Israel’s ground incursions. Local residents in Lebanese towns, including Aita al-Shaab, reported heavy shelling, with drones and helicopters overhead throughout the night.
Israel’s operations follow the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a Beirut airstrike last week. His death, seen as a major blow to Hezbollah, has heightened tensions across the region.
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Escalation Raises Regional Fears
The ground operations mark a sharp escalation, drawing concerns of a wider conflict. Lebanese troops pulled back from border positions, while Hezbollah signaled it was ready for a ground battle. The situation threatens to involve regional powers like Iran and the United States, with some analysts fearing a broader Middle East conflict.
Israel also targeted Mounir Maqdah, a key leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. The strike hit a building in the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp, Lebanon’s largest camp. This was the first Israeli attack on the camp since the conflict with Hezbollah began.
