Israel has begun "limited and targeted" ground operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon after accompanying air and artillery strikes. Lebanese authorities say the fighting has displaced more than one million people and killed at least 886 people, including 111 children, since March 2. Hezbollah reported strikes on Nahariya that wounded a man, while international leaders including Turkey and Germany warned against escalation as humanitarian needs mount.
Israel Launches Limited Ground Operations Against Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon as Displacement Tops One Million
Israel has undertaken ground operations inside Lebanon (Odd ANDERSEN)(Odd ANDERSEN/AFP/AFP)
Israel's military said on Monday it has begun "limited and targeted" ground operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, following days of air and artillery strikes. Lebanese authorities in Beirut reported that more than one million people have been displaced and that at least 886 people, including 111 children, have been killed since the escalation began on March 2.
Ground Operations and Military Rationale
An Israeli military statement said troops "have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon" as part of broader defensive measures. The statement said the operations aim to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure and eliminate terrorists... to remove threats and create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel." The military added that the ground moves were preceded by air and artillery strikes.
Hezbollah Response and Local Impact
Hezbollah said it launched rockets and attack drones at the northern Israeli city of Nahariya on Monday. Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service reported paramedics treating a man in "mild to moderate condition" for blast injuries and six others for smoke inhalation. Israeli sources said a rocket struck between two buildings, starting a blaze.
Humanitarian Toll and Displacement
Lebanese authorities and state media reported strikes across southern Lebanon. Beirut said the toll since March 2 stands at 886 dead, including 111 children, and that more than one million people have registered as displaced, with roughly 132,000 staying in collective shelters. Israel has issued evacuation warnings for parts of southern Lebanon extending more than 40 kilometres from the border.
Regional Reactions and Warnings
Turkey condemned Israel's ground operation, warning it could worsen regional instability and risk "another humanitarian catastrophe." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged restraint, saying Israel should "not take this path." An Israeli military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, accused Hezbollah of firing hundreds of rockets daily and said the group had deployed elements of its Radwan unit to the south of Lebanon.
Security Measures and Displacement Policy
Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that displaced Lebanese would not be allowed to return "south of the Litani area until the safety of residents in the north is guaranteed." Israeli officials reiterated they do not plan to evacuate Israeli northern communities even as fighting continues along the border and in frontier towns such as Khiam and Metula.
Note: Reporting on this conflict remains fluid. Numbers and claims by either side may change as independent verification becomes available.
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