The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it is reinforcing its ground operations in southern Lebanon by deploying regular infantry and armored units, escalating pressure on Hezbollah. This comes after a barrage of missile strikes from Iran on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in the conflict between Israel, Iran, and their regional allies.
The deployment includes troops from Israel’s 36th Division, featuring the elite Golani Brigade, the 188th Armoured Brigade, and the 6th Infantry Brigade. While the operation is focused on neutralizing Hezbollah’s tunnels and infrastructure along the border, there are no immediate plans to expand the assault to Beirut or major cities in southern Lebanon, according to military officials.
Israel’s reinforcement follows a massive missile strike from Iran, its largest military assault on Israel to date. Tehran said the attack was a retaliation for Israel’s recent actions against Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as the assassination of key militant leaders, including Hezbollah’s chief, Hassan Nasrallah. Iran warned that its military offensive would cease unless provoked further, while Israeli and U.S. officials vowed a “significant retaliation,” which could target Iran’s oil facilities and other strategic assets.
In southern Lebanon, fighting continued as Hezbollah launched rockets at Israeli forces, and Israel bombarded Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs. The United Nations, United States, and European Union have all called for an immediate ceasefire, but the conflict shows no signs of abating.
The fighting has killed nearly 1,900 people and injured more than 9,000 in Lebanon, with the most casualties occurring in the past two weeks, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel has also warned of potential retaliation against Iranian oil production facilities, further raising global concerns about a wider Middle Eastern conflict.
