Israel launches ground invasion of southern Lebanon

Beirut (Quds News Network)- Israel launched what it has described as “limited, localized, and targeted” ground invasion of southern Lebanon late Monday night, marking an escalation in its continuing offensive.

A statement from the Israeli army stated that it was targeting villages in localized raids near the border, claiming they “pose an immediate and real threat to Israeli settlements on the northern border”.

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant earlier implied the army was ready for a ground operation, telling troops near the Lebanese border Israel was prepared to use forces “from the air, sea, and land” to target Hezbollah.

Heavy shelling, air strikes and drone strikes preceded the operation in southern Lebanon and strikes in southern Beirut continued as the ground raids began.

Israel’s air force and infantry forces accompanied Israel’s ground forces according to the statement in an operation titled “Northern Arrows”.

Earlier on Monday, Lebanese troops pulled back five kilometres from their positions on the southern border while the Israeli military declared three areas in northern Israel as “closed military zones”.

In a public address on Monday from Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Hezbollah remained defiant.

“We are quite ready, if the Israelis want a ground incursion, the resistance forces are ready for that,” Qassem declared.

Israeli tanks and soldiers have been massing at the northern border for days, according to open-source imagery.

The US State Department on Monday confirmed that Israel is conducting “limited” ground operations in southern Lebanon.

“This is what they have informed us that they are currently conducting, which are limited operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure near the border,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

The US claimed that Israel has a right to defend itself against Hezbollah, accusing the group of provoking Israel, but said that it is committed to a diplomatic solution and is seeking a ceasefire.

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that he wanted a “ceasefire now”.

“I’m more aware than you might know and I’m comfortable with them stopping,” he said.

The Pentagon said the US was sending to the Middle East “a few thousand” more troops who would come from multiple fighter jet squadrons.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, is no longer able to patrol southern Lebanon as a result of invasion, the UN said.