IDF Unleashes Precision Ground Attacks on Lebanon as Conflict Escalates
Overview of the Situation
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| Structures in Lebanon are hit by Israeli artillery amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel on Oct. 1, 2024. |
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun targeted ground raids in southern Lebanon as part of the ongoing conflict against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The raids have been initiated nearly a year after the escalation of hostilities along the Israel-Lebanon border and are meant to restore stability to northern Israel.
Secondly, the return of about 70,000 displaced Israeli residents who are already forced to flee the conflict from their homes remains a priority and critical political agenda for Netanyahu's government.
According to the IDF, it was up to Tuesday when troops from the 98th Paratroopers Division and the 36th Division, along with infantry brigades, artillery, and the Israeli Air Force, were conducting the raids. Describe the operations as "limited, localized, and targeted" in order to degrade Hezbollah's capabilities, disrupt their cross-border firepower, and pave the way for displaced residents to return, Israeli officials mentioned these objectives.
Ground Raids and Military Objectives
The ground incursions by the IDF follow months of aerial bombardments and targeted assassinations of key Hezbollah figures to cripple the military infrastructure and leadership structure of this group. Since Israel launched its offensive against Israel's northern regions in early October, the IDF has responded strategically with airstrikes and nowadays with boots-on-the-ground operations.
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| Israeli tanks maneuver in a staging area in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 1, 2024. |
A senior Israeli security official identified three main objectives for the ground operation:
1. Countering Hezbollah's cross-border firepower, including rockets and drones that have terrorized Israeli communities.
2. Eliminate senior Hezbollah leaders responsible for planning attacks against Israel.
3. Returning safely Israeli citizens who had been displaced by the conflict.
During the last year, special forces have been operating inside southern Lebanon. These special forces have destroyed all fortified Hezbollah positions, tunnels, and weapons caches. Some of the tunnels reached close to the Israeli border, which was a bad security risk.
Involvement and Escalation of Hezbollah
Hezbollah launched its cross-border attacks on October 8, one day after Hamas launched its deadly incursion into Israel's southern towns, killing over 1,200 Israelis. The outcome of these attacks led Hezbollah to state that it was siding with Hamas. And since then, the target of Hezbollah's operations has been to harass Israel's northern districts and military outposts, adding to the tension building in this region.
Israel has reacted severely, with ongoing airstrikes and ground incursions aimed at crippling the operational capacities of Hezbollah. Rockets and drones continue to be a threat, reaching into Tel Aviv in recent weeks.
Civilian Displacement and Evacuations
The fighting has also devasted civilian populations in southern Lebanon, especially within strongholds of Hezbollah. The IDF has issued an order to evacuate 50 Lebanese villages along the northern side of the Awali River, 37 miles from Israel's border, to prevent civilian casualties.
Many are being driven out of southern Lebanon by bombing and are living in precarious conditions. Others are spending nights in the open, under the stars: in the streets or on beaches in the capital city, Beirut, after receiving evacuation orders from the IDF. Meanwhile, Israeli citizens living in border areas have also suffered a great deal, with 70,000 people displaced and army reserves mobilized for security as they return.
Long-Term Military and Diplomatic Aims
One of the main objectives of Israeli ground operations is to capture strategic positions along the border. In terms of the control of a ridge three miles north of the border, Hezbollah has employed such a position in order to fire anti-tank missiles and other arms into Israel. By destroying military infrastructure Hezbollah has built through tunnels, arms depots, and fortified positions, Israel seeks to build a buffer zone capable of shielding its northern towns. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, passed after the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, called for both Israeli and Hezbollah forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon. However, Israel has long argued that Hezbollah failed to comply, leading to ongoing tensions. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have expressed frustration with the lack of diplomatic resolution and see the current military campaign as necessary to secure Israel’s borders.
Iran's Role and Regional Implication
Israel's actions against Lebanon are also part of its effort to ward off Iranian interference. Hezbollah, Iran's oldest ally, receives Iran's bulk of financial and military aid. In the wake of Israel's military operation, Iran retaliated with a massive missile volley at Israel, which was its second direct attack since the war started in October. Netanyahu thus warned of severe consequences for Iran, saying it "made a big mistake" and will "pay for it." Israel wants to avoid an all-out wider regional war but remains committed to canceling any threat posed by Hezbollah and Iran.
As Israeli ground forces continue their operations in southern Lebanon, the return of displaced Israeli residents remains a central objective. The IDF's operations, while limited in scope, are strategically important in neutralizing Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and ensuring the security of Israel's northern communities. While there is no clear end on the horizon, the Israel-Hezbollah conflict is likely to intensify over the coming weeks in both preparation for further escalations and attempts to gain a strategic advantage in the long, dragging battle.