Israel intensified its preparations for a ground invasion after striking Hezbollah weapons production facilities in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released footage of the 98th Division’s preparations for “limited, localised, and targeted ground raids.”
IDF in a post on X said, “After operating in Gaza, where the soldiers of the 98th division gained skills and operational experience, they moved north and are now conducting limited, localized, targeted operations that began last night.We will continue fighting to achieve all goals of the war including dismantling Hamas, bringing our hostages back home and restoring security in northern Israel.”
Meanwhile, overnight airstrikes in the Dahiyeh neighborhood of Beirut targeted Hezbollah sites, including weapons production facilities and military infrastructure, according to the IDF. The military claimed that Hezbollah intentionally places its weapons and military installations beneath central Beirut, integrating them within heavily populated areas. The IDF reiterated its commitment to restoring security for Israel and its citizens.
In the past few weeks, the soldiers of the 98th Division, comprising units from the Paratroopers, Commando, and 7th Brigades, have been preparing for the operations in southern Lebanon, which began Monday night. “After many months of operating in the Gaza Strip, where the soldiers of the division gained skills and operational experience, they moved north and are now operating in the northern arena after making the necessary adjustments for fighting in Lebanon,” the IDF said.
Earlier today, IDF in its X post said, “The IDF is operating according to a methodical plan set out by the General Staff and the Northern Command, for which IDF soldiers have trained and prepared over the past few months. The Israeli Air Force and IDF Artillery are supporting ground forces with precise strikes on military targets in the area. These operations, approved by the political echelon, are part of Operation ‘Northern Arrows,’ which will continue in line with situational assessments, in parallel to combat in Gaza and other arenas.”
Israel’s military forces crossed the border into southern Lebanon on Monday as part of these operations, which are aimed at pushing Hezbollah forces further from the Israeli border and neutralizing their infrastructure, including stockpiles of weapons. According to US officials, the operation is expected to be short in duration, lasting days rather than weeks.
Israel has informed the US that the incursion into southern Lebanon is focused on moving Hezbollah forces away from the border and targeting key military infrastructure. The offensive is expected to be limited in scope and time, officials said, possibly lasting only a few days.