JERUSALEM (VINnews) — As Israel beefs up its forces in the north in preparation of a possible ground invasion of Southern Lebanon, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that Israeli special forces have already been carrying out small, targeted raids into southern Lebanon, gathering intelligence and probing ahead of the broader ground incursion, which could come already later on this week.
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The raids, which have included entering Hezbollah’s tunnels located along the border, have occurred recently as well as over the past months as part of the broader effort by Israel to degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities along the border dividing Israel and Lebanon, Israeli officials told WSJ.
The timing of any ground action could change, the officials. Israel is under heavy pressure from the U.S. not to carry out a major invasion. It wasn’t immediately clear how long Israel would aim to hold territory, or whether the incursion would be more like a series of larger raids.
Amir Avivi, a former senior Israeli military official who continues to be briefed by the defense establishment, said a ground incursion by Israel is imminent and that the raids are part of the preparation.
“The IDF has made a lot of preparations for a ground incursion,” Avivi told WSJ. “Overall, this always includes special operations. This is part of the process.”
Hezbollah appears so weakened that Israel’s dilemma would actually be how far Israel should go into Lebanon, Avivi said. When and under what terms Israel would leave remain unclear, he said.
A broader ground incursion would be highly provocative in the region and a further blow to a country scarred by previous invasions that ended in 2000 and 2006. Israel’s government is under pressure to create a buffer zone to stop Hezbollah attacks that have forced some 70,000 people from their homes in the north and prevent the sort of cross-border attack that Hamas led against Israel on Oct. 7, which many in the country still fear. Hezbollah has threatened for years to invade parts of northern Israel.
A senior Israeli official said last week that the country hoped to avoid a ground invasion. It has, however, been building up its forces in the north with the shift in focus to the fight with Hezbollah and now has more on that front than anywhere else in the country.
Israel’s military chief told troops last week that airstrikes against Hezbollah were in preparation for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon.
“We are preparing the process of a maneuver, which means your military boots, your maneuvering boots, will enter enemy territory,” Israeli chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, said in comments to Israeli troops at the country’s northern border with Lebanon.
The U.S. and Arab countries have consistently said they want a diplomatic solution to the crisis, warning of the risk of a regional war.
The U.S. also has beefed up its forces in the region to deter countries such as Iran from getting involved and to be prepared to respond to any escalation.
The Pentagon said Sunday it would keep the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and its accompanying ships near the Red Sea. The Lincoln had been expected to leave when the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group arrived. The Truman will now be operating near the Mediterranean Sea. It is unusual for the U.S. to keep two carriers in the region.
Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qasem warned Monday that the terrorist group is prepared for an Israeli ground incursion: “If Israel decides to enter on the ground- Hezbollah forces are ready, we will emerge victorious from this battle.”
