Israel launches ground assault in southern Lebanon
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced the authorisation of a ground assault in southern Lebanon.
In a statement on Tuesday, Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorised the army to “advance and hold additional dominant terrain in Lebanon”.
He said the aim was to “prevent the possibility of direct fire on Israeli communities”.
The Israeli army confirmed that it had deployed troops “deeper into southern Lebanon”, beyond the five positions it has occupied since the 2024 ceasefire.
It said the renewed offensive formed part of what it described as an “enhanced forward defence posture”.
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The announcement came a day after hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah resumed amid the war with Iran.
The Lebanese group began launching rockets at northern Israel on Monday, which it said was in retaliation for the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Israel responded with heavy air strikes in southern Lebanon and in Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing dozens and triggering a fresh wave of displacement.
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