Israel is reportedly preparing to launch a limited ground operation in southern Lebanon, according to a senior US official speaking to ABC News on Saturday.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) aim to move into the region, though details of the operation, including its scale and timing, remain undisclosed.
Earlier in the week, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, IDF Chief of Staff, hinted at the potential operation during a briefing with troops stationed near Israel’s northern border. He stated that the recent airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions in Lebanon were intended to pave the way for a possible ground maneuver. “You will go in, destroy the enemy, and dismantle their infrastructure,” Halevi told the soldiers, explaining that Hezbollah had allegedly fortified villages with underground facilities and military launch sites.
The tension between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated over the past year, as the militia continues to back the Palestinian cause amidst Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
Airstrikes over the last week in southern Lebanon have reportedly killed 1,300 people, according to Lebanese health officials, and have severely damaged Hezbollah’s military communication networks.
The report of the planned incursion follows the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in a major Israeli airstrike on the group’s headquarters in Beirut.
The death of Nasrallah, confirmed by the militia on Saturday, has left the group without a named successor. Israel claims that its recent offensive has eliminated nearly all of Hezbollah’s top military leadership.
In response to Nasrallah’s death, Washington praised the strike as “justice” for his involvement in attacks that killed thousands of civilians, including Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese. While reaffirming its support for Israel’s right to defend itself, the US also called for efforts to de-escalate the conflict.
