DUBAI, March 3: Israel’s military announced Tuesday that ground forces are now actively operating across multiple points in southern Lebanon, ramping up their campaign against entrenched Hezbollah militants along the volatile border.
In an official statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the moves as a “forward defence posture” designed to shield northern Israeli communities from rocket fire and cross-border raids. Troops have dug in near key frontier zones, backed by reinforced air defenses and additional battalions—yet the IDF stressed no civilian evacuations are planned for border towns.
Spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani clarified this builds on Israel’s ongoing occupation of five strategic Lebanese positions held since the fragile November 2024 ceasefire that paused over a year of brutal fighting. “We’re not retreating; we’re advancing to neutralize threats before they reach our people,” he emphasized.
The escalation syncs with Israel’s broader war against Iran and its proxies, including fresh airstrikes dismantling Hezbollah command nodes. Hezbollah has vowed retaliation, but Israeli jets maintain round-the-clock dominance over Lebanese skies. Analysts warn of a potential full-scale ground incursion if rocket barrages persist, as Jerusalem prioritizes resident safety amid Tehran’s regional meltdown.
Lebanese officials protested the “incursion,” urging UN intervention, while IDF commanders signal long-haul commitment: “Hezbollah started this fire—we’ll smother it completely.” No immediate clashes were reported, but tensions simmer as both sides eye the next spark.
