Israel army says begun 'limited targeted ground operations' against Hezbollah in south Lebanon
Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli air strike in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut on March 9, 2026. Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war last week when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. PHOTO: AFP
The Israeli military said on Monday it had begun what it described as "limited ground operations" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
⭕️ IDF troops have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, aimed at enhancing the forward defense area.
This activity is part of broader defensive efforts to establish and strengthen a forward defensive posture, which…"In recent days, IDF troops from the 91st division have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, aimed at enhancing the forward defence area," the military said in a statement.
"This activity is part of broader defensive efforts to establish and strengthen a forward defensive posture, which includes the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure and the elimination of terrorists operating in the area, in order to remove threats and create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel," it said.
"Prior to the troops' entry into the area, the IDF conducted strikes using both artillery and the Israeli Air Force against numerous terrorist targets in order to mitigate threats in the operational environment."
Read: HRW accuses Israel of 'unlawfully' using white phosphorus in new Lebanon attacks
Lebanon was dragged into the Middle East war on March 2 when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes, with Israel launching air raids on the neighbouring country and troop incursions into border areas.
Around 800,000 Lebanese civilians have been displaced since the conflict began, and at least 773 people have been killed, many of them civilians, according to an Axios report on Saturday.
The report also says US officials urged Israel not to strike Beirut’s international airport or other Lebanese state infrastructure during the planned operation.
Israeli officials told the outlet that while Israel agreed to avoid targeting the airport, it did not commit to protecting all other state infrastructure.
“We feel we have full US backing for this operation,” an Israeli official told Axios.