The Israeli military has announced the start of a ground operation in southern Lebanon, describing the maneuvers as "preemptive defense" measures along the border. The conflict has entered a new phase following a series of strikes by the United States and Israel against targets in Iran.
A Lebanese military source told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that the army had withdrawn its units from the border to ensure the safety of its personnel. Earlier, Lebanon's state news agency and Reuters confirmed the evacuation of at least seven forward positions.
Mahmoud Qmati, a high-ranking Hezbollah official, stated that the group "has no choice left but resistance." According to Qmati, Israel has sought an open war, declaring that "the era of patience is over."
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered troops to occupy additional strategic areas in Lebanon to halt the shelling of border settlements. IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani emphasized that the increased presence is necessary to protect civilians from Hezbollah attacks.
However, security analyst Ali Rizk has urged caution regarding Israel's declarations. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he noted that such maneuvers do not always signal a full-scale offensive, pointing out that ground clashes in 2024 proved costly for the Israeli side.