Israeli special forces have reportedly been conducting small, targeted raids into southern Lebanon to acquire intelligence and investigate the potential for a broader ground incursion, which could occur as early as tonight, according to individuals with knowledge of the situation.
The incursions, which have included the entry of Hezbollah’s tunnels along the border, have taken place recently and in the past months as part of Israel’s broader effort to weaken Hezbollah’s capabilities along the border between Israel and Lebanon, according to the sources.
The individuals stated that the timetable of any ground action could be altered.
According to U.S. officials, the Biden administration anticipates an imminent Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
The Israeli-Lebanese border is anticipated to be the site of a significant amount of combat; however, there is apprehension in Washington that the conflict may extend beyond a brief campaign and expand geographically.
The United States has encouraged Israel to pursue a diplomatic resolution and to limit the scope of any ground operation.
Initially, it was unclear whether an incursion would resemble a series of larger assaults or how long Israel intended to maintain control of the territory.
The dilemma for Israel would be the extent to which it should invade Lebanon, as Hezbollah appears to have been significantly hampered by Israeli operations, including a strike that resulted in the death of the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
He stated that the timing and conditions under which Israel would depart are still uncertain.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel was preparing to enter Lebanon using infantry, tanks, ships, and air power during a speech to infantry and tank brigades in the northern region on Monday.
The Biden administration is concerned about the potential for Iranian retaliation. Officials in Washington are in communication with their Israeli counterparts to develop a defense against such an assault.
Some members of the administration have suggested that the attack could be comparable to Tehran’s April barrage of missile and drone strikes, which the U.S., Israel, and regional partners successfully repelled.
The group’s deputy secretary-general stated in the first remarks from a senior Hezbollah official since Nasrallah was slain last week in a massive Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs that the militants’ ability to fight had not been compromised by the deaths of him and other top military commanders.
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