Israeli forces launched limited ground raids late Monday Sept. 30, targeting Hezbollah positions along the border with Lebanon. The raids followed approval from Israel’s security cabinet for the next phase of its military operations, focusing on Hezbollah infrastructure that poses an immediate threat to Israeli towns near the border.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), confirmed the operation early Tuesday, Oct. 1, stating the focus was on dismantling Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
“If the state of Lebanon and the world can’t push Hezbollah away from our border, we have no choice but to do it ourselves,” Hagari said in a statement. “I want to make it clear a war is with Hezbollah, not with the people of Lebanon.”
The IDF reported that its ground troops, backed by air and artillery support, entered several Lebanese villages.
The 98th Division, made up of paratroopers and commando units, led the incursions alongside the 7th Armored Brigade. According to the IDF, the aim is to push Hezbollah forces back and reduce their ability to launch attacks on Israel’s northern communities.
“Hezbollah also dug tunnels under homes in these villages close to the border with Israel,” Hagari said. “Tonight, we are declassifying a series of IDF operations conducted since the beginning of the war aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s terrorist infrastructure and capabilities.”
During these raids, Israeli forces targeted Hezbollah compounds, collected intelligence, and destroyed weapon caches, including advanced Iranian-made arms. According to Hagari, the IDF dismantled more than 700 Hezbollah terror assets during the operations.
“There’s a lot more work to do,” Hagari said.
Reports of the incursions surfaced on social media and Arabic media outlets early Monday, but the IDF officially confirmed the raids the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 1.
U.S. officials were briefed ahead of the operations, and Israeli officials assured Washington that the raids would be limited in scope and duration. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin voiced concerns about potential escalation but reaffirmed America’s support for Israel’s right to dismantle Hezbollah’s attack infrastructure.
Hezbollah responded to the raids by launching rockets from southern Lebanon into northern Israel late Monday. Air raid sirens sounded across several Israeli towns. Some of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system, while others landed in open areas. Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut in retaliation.
In response to the growing tension, several countries, including Germany, Bulgaria, and Canada, began evacuating diplomats and citizens from Lebanon. Special evacuation flights have been arranged from Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport as concerns grow over further escalation.
The Israeli military also reported that recent airstrikes have weakened Hezbollah’s leadership and communication networks.
