Israel Launches Ground Incursion into Lebanon, Escalating War with Hezbollah

Israel has launched what it calls a “limited ground operation” across its northern border into Lebanon, targeting the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, CNN reports.

This marks a dangerous new phase in the almost year-long war, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

This incursion, declared by Israel’s National Security Cabinet as the “next phase” of its war with Hezbollah, is the fourth time Israeli soldiers have publicly entered Lebanese soil in nearly 50 years. It is the first since Israel’s 34-day war in 2006.

The operation follows weeks of escalating airstrikes by Israel that have devastated Lebanon, killing hundreds of people, destroying homes, and displacing over a million civilians. The most significant event preceding the incursion was the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Friday, a move that decimated the leadership of the paramilitary force.

While Israeli officials characterize the incursion as “limited in scope” and insist there will be “no long-term occupation,” the extent and duration of the operation remain unclear. The Israeli military claims it aims to eliminate “immediate threats” posed by Hezbollah in border villages, including their ability to infiltrate northern Israel.

However, Israeli leaders have hinted at further action. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared Monday that Nasrallah’s assassination was “a very important step, but it is not the final one,” and that Israel will employ “all the capabilities at our disposal.”

The incursion comes amidst international calls for restraint and de-escalation, and growing outrage over the rising civilian casualties in Lebanon and Gaza. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown defiance, ignoring these pleas.

History suggests that Israel’s claims of “limited” operations have often proven false. This includes the years-long occupation of southern Lebanon that began in 1982 with the stated aim of a brief mission to destroy the PLO, and the “limited” operation in Rafah, Gaza that left the city in ruins.

In preparation for the incursion, Israel launched small raids and artillery fire across the Lebanon border, sealed off communities in northern Israel, and evacuated observation posts at the border. The Lebanese army has withdrawn to barracks in border villages.

Meanwhile, Israel’s air force continued its relentless bombing campaign, striking the southern suburbs of Beirut, Hezbollah’s stronghold. This follows airstrikes earlier Monday that hit inside Beirut’s city limits for the first time since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The escalation comes amidst a cycle of tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Hezbollah since the war in Gaza began last October. Hezbollah has vowed to continue striking Israel until a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, which has been devastated by Israeli bombings and fighting.