Israeli army announces beginning of its ground operations in South Lebanon

The Israeli army announced late Monday to Tuesday that it had begun "localized ground raids" on Hezbollah targets in villages in southern Lebanon.

"In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, the Civil Defense Forces commenced limited, localized, and targeted ground raids a few hours ago, based on precise intelligence, against Hezbollah's terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon," the Israeli army stated on Telegram around 2 a.m.. "These targets are located in villages near the border," it specified.

It added that operation Northern Arrows will continue based on the assessment of the situation, in parallel with the fighting in Gaza and on other fronts.

Local residents in the Lebanese border town of Aita al-Shaab reported heavy shelling and the sound of helicopters and drones overhead, according to Reuters.

Israeli army forces crossed the border wall with Lebanon from different sites and began moving toward adjacent villages, reported the Israeli channel Channel 13.

This is the first time since 2006 that an Israeli military incursion has taken place in southern Lebanon.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had told local council heads in northern Israel that the next phase of the war along Lebanon's southern border would begin soon, and would support the aim of bringing home Israelis who have fled their homes in northern Israel.

Prior to the Israeli army’s announcement, starting at around 11:40 p.m. on Monday, at least six strikes hit different areas of southern Beirut suburbs, less than an hour after evacuation orders were issued by the Israeli army. The strikes caused the destruction of several buildings, primarily residential complexes stated the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA). According to local media, the Israeli strikes targeted neighborhoods that were not mentioned in the evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army around 11 p.m.