Israel Launches Ground Incursion into Southern Lebanon, Ignites Wider War with Hezbollah

Israeli forces launched a new ground incursion into southern Lebanon as part of a broader campaign the military described as a "forward defence," saying troops were "operating in southern Lebanon" amid a widening regional conflict triggered by recent US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Hezbollah and Israeli accounts report exchanges across the border: Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces both said rockets and missiles were fired from southern Lebanon toward Israel, and Israel has declared strikes in response.

Al Jazeera

The Lebanese army reportedly pulled back border positions to protect personnel as tensions escalated.

The exchanges set off explosions, airstrikes and mass displacement in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, with witnesses reporting buildings ablaze, burned-out cars and clogged highways as civilians fled.

Multiple outlets reported at least 31 dead in Lebanon after strikes hit villages near Tyre, the Bekaa valley and Dahieh; authorities described collapsed buildings and large-scale evacuations recalling the devastation of the 2023–24 war.

BBC

Hezbollah framed its cross-border strikes as retaliation and a defensive measure after regional escalations.

The group said it launched missile and drone attacks toward Israeli military sites and that it was responding to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.

Hezbollah leaders warned that the era of patience had ended.

Israel’s political and military leadership said it would press offensive operations to stop cross-border fire and degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities.

Lebanon’s government condemned Hezbollah’s unsanctioned strikes and warned against dragging the country into a fresh confrontation, while calling for the group to hand over arms.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam publicly described the rocket fire as irresponsible and vowed not to allow Lebanon to be pulled into "new adventures."

France 24

Regional actors and Western governments expressed concern that the exchanges risk widening the conflict beyond Lebanon.

Israel carried out targeted strikes against Hezbollah operatives and positions across southern Lebanon and the Beirut suburb of Dahieh.

The military said it hit senior officers, described its counter-strikes as 'powerful', and said some projectiles toward Israel were intercepted.

Genocide Watch

Authorities ordered evacuations of dozens of towns and earlier mobilized large numbers of reservists.

Thousands of civilians fled by car and foot as roads became congested.