Israel extends Lebanon incursion to strike Hezbollah 

The IDF’s ground push into the neighboring country comes as the Iran-backed military group says it is ready for “open war”  

Israeli forces have moved deeper into southern Lebanon and seized additional positions for the first time since the 2024 ceasefire with the aim of targeting Hezbollah. The move marks a broader expansion of Israel’s military campaign across the region. 

Israel carried out airstrikes on Lebanon in retaliation for rocket strikes on the Jewish state by Hezbollah, which in turn was responding to the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes over the weekend.   

On Tuesday, Israeli forces entered several locations in southern Lebanon before dawn, reportedly after telling residents to evacuate up to 80 border villages. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said at least 50 people have been killed in recent exchanges, hundreds were wounded, and tens of thousands of civilians have fled the southern border areas. Hezbollah said it was ready for “open war” with Israel as the cross-border fighting escalated.  

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Israel has said its operation in Lebanon will continue until Hezbollah is disarmed, linking the campaign to its broader security goals. Effie Defrin, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, said Israel “shall not end this without Hezbollah being stripped of its weaponry.”

“We will end this campaign with not just Iran being struck, but with Hezbollah suffering a devastating blow,” the Israeli military’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Monday. He signaled the fight could be prolonged, adding it would not end “before the threat from Lebanon is eliminated.”  

The statements come as Israeli troops have intensified strikes on Hezbollah while also maintaining a blockade on Gaza and continuing ground operations there after months of fighting with Hamas.  

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Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah reflects plans drawn up months ago, analysts said, with the military waiting for a trigger to act. “Israel was waiting for the opportunity,” Orna Mizrahi, a former Israeli deputy national security adviser told the New York Times.  

Meanwhile, the Lebanese government has outlawed all Hezbollah security and military activity. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Monday called on the group to hand over its weapons and said the Lebanese Army would immediately begin implementing a plan to disarm Hezbollah.  

Lebanon and Israel agreed to a US-backed ceasefire in 2024 after nearly a year of fighting, which followed Hezbollah attacks on Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. Since then, Israel has regularly targeted Lebanese territory, accusing the militant group of violating the truce.