The Israeli military said Wednesday it has launched "special, targeted operations" inside southern Lebanon, marking a potential escalation in ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement reached last November, Al-Jazeera reported.
According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), troops from the 9th Brigade and 300th Brigade crossed into Lebanese territory overnight to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in the Labbouneh and Jabal Blat areas, both near the Israeli-Lebanese border. The military released video footage showing soldiers conducting what it described as a "targeted nighttime operation."
The IDF said the incursion was based on "intelligence information" identifying Hezbollah weapons and militant infrastructure. It claimed the mission aimed to prevent the group from reestablishing a presence along the border.
While the Israeli military did not confirm whether this was the first ground operation in Lebanon since the November 2024 ceasefire, the move represents a significant development in the fragile standoff between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group.
Despite the ceasefire intended to end more than a year of escalating conflict, including several months of full-scale fighting, Israel has continued to conduct regular airstrikes across Lebanon — including multiple attacks on Beirut. Israel maintains it is targeting Hezbollah fighters and weapons depots, though civilian casualties and destruction of residential buildings have drawn international concern.
The latest ground operation comes amid increased Israeli military activity in Lebanon, a weakening Hezbollah posture, and the Lebanese army’s continued absence from the conflict. Critics say a lack of effective international pressure on Israel has allowed it to continue operations despite the truce.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has repeatedly called on the U.S. and Israel to halt military actions inside Lebanon and honor the ceasefire agreement. His appeals have so far gone unanswered.
