IDF expands ground operation in southern Lebanon

“We are at war with Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said. “We are not easing off the gas. On the contrary, I have instructed to press harder.”

By World Israel News Staff

Tensions along Israel’s northern border are escalating sharply Tuesday as the IDF expands its campaign against Hezbollah and begins ground operations inside southern Lebanon.

Israeli media is reporting that IDF forces are operating on the ground beyond the “Yellow Line” into Lebanese territory, marking a significant intensification of the conflict.

Earlier reports from Lebanon indicated IDF troops advancing north of the Litani River in the Beaufort Ridge area, with activity concentrated near the village of Zoutar al-Sharqiya. Hezbollah-affiliated outlet Al-Manar reported ground movement in the same region, though the extent of the operation remains unclear.

The ground push comes alongside a wave of intensified airstrikes. Overnight, the Israeli military struck more than 100 Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, including weapons depots, command centers, and other infrastructure used to plan attacks against Israeli forces and civilians.

Earlier Tuesday, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents in parts of southern Lebanon, including the city of Nabatieh, urging civilians to leave areas near Hezbollah positions ahead of intensified strikes.

Israeli leaders are also preparing for a broader escalation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security consultation Tuesday in Tel Aviv with Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to assess the situation and discuss the next phase of operations.

The developments follow Netanyahu’s remarks Monday signaling a more aggressive approach.

“We are at war with Hezbollah,” Netanyahu said. “We are not easing off the gas. On the contrary, I have instructed to press harder.”

He added that Israel is prepared to increase both the scale and intensity of its strikes.

“We will hit them hard,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Home Front Command has tightened civilian restrictions in several northern areas, reducing permitted gathering sizes and maintaining partial activity levels in frontline communities.

Hezbollah has continued to launch attack drones toward northern Israel, maintaining constant pressure on frontline communities as Israeli forces intensify their operations.

The combination of ground operations, expanded airstrikes, earlier evacuation warnings inside Lebanon, and ongoing Hezbollah attacks signals a rapidly evolving situation, raising the likelihood that fighting in the north is entering a broader and more sustained phase.