Israel begins targeted ground operation in Lebanon against Hezbollah

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday launched a ground operation in South Lebanon, a stronghold of the Shia militia, Hezbollah, days after taking out its top leadership.?The Israeli military said in a statement that it had begun “limited, localised and targeted ground raids” against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

Fatah leader targeted

?"These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel,” it said.

According to reports, Mounir Maqdah, commander of the Lebanese branch of the Palestinian Fatah movement's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, is among those targeted by Israel.

The strike hit a building in the crowded Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern city of Sidon, and Maqdah's fate was unknown.

Syrian journalist killed

Meanwhile, Syrian state media said on Tuesday that three civilians, including one of its presenters, were killed and nine others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital Damascus.

?'Next phase of war against Hezbollah'

Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had warned of the next phase in Israel's offensive against Hezbollah.

"The next phase of the war against Hezbollah will start soon and bring a significant change in the security situation," Gallant said.

According to Gallant, Israel would "use all the means that may be required... from the air, from the sea, and on land."

Israel vs Hamas, Hezbollah?

Israel has been at war with the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah since the October 7 invasion that killed over a thousand Israelis. The war resulted in mid-September when Israel blew up pagers and walkie-talkies of Hezbollah militants in a coordinated attack.

On September 27, Israel also assassinated Hassan Nasrallah, the chief of Hezbollah, inside his hideout in a bunker. Several top Hezbollah leaders, including possible successors of Nasrallah, have also been killed by Israel.

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