The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim that they are pursuing Hezbollah positions, including weaponry and stores, in the southern Lebanon border area that “pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel”.
Israel has refrained from revealing the extent of its troop penetration into Lebanon or the anticipated duration of the operation.
News has it that the offensive will only last a few days, not weeks, in terms of both breadth and duration.
Since 2006, Israeli ground forces have not routinely entered Lebanon’s territory until now.
Prior to a planned invasion, Israel had earlier conducted minor special forces operations in southern Lebanon.
In addition, it started bombarding border towns in the southern part of the country and issued an evacuation alert to people residing in Beirut’s southern suburbs, telling them to flee before the city was hit by airstrikes.
