Detachments from the Israel Defense Forces crossed the border into southern Lebanon early Tuesday in what officials in Jerusalem describe as “limited, localized, and targeted ground raids” against the Tehran-backed Hezbollah militia.
Dubbed Operation Northern Arrows, the incursion will reportedly focus on neutralizing Hezbollah infrastructure used to launch more than 7,500 projectiles at the Jewish state since the beginning of last year’s war in Gaza. The 11-month terror campaign of nearly daily bombardments has resulted in the deaths of 158 Israelis and the evacuation of over 60,000 residents from their homes.
The mission is expected to include the deployment of commando units, supported by airpower and artillery, to locations just across Israel’s northern boundary.
The maneuvers followed an announcement from the IDF indicating some communities in the immediate staging areas would be designated as a "closed military zone," along with reports of Lebanese soldiers pulling back from several positions near the border.
In response to the action, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Kassem, said in a televised address that "the forces of the resistance are ready for a ground engagement.”
The invasion follows several weeks of preparatory actions by the IDF targeting Hezbollah, including a Friday airstrike which killed the terror group’s longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
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