Hezbollah has unleashed a barrage of rockets on several Israeli settlements hours after Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) launched raids on southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese group targeted the border villages of Shtula, Metula and Avivim while sending dozens of rockets streaming toward the city of Haifa - a major port city in Israel's north - and Tel Aviv.
The Israeli military said the operations in Lebanon began on Monday night and involved the elite 98th division, which was deployed to the northern front two weeks ago from Gaza where they had been fighting against Hamas for months.
It said its air force and artillery supported ground troops engaged in 'limited, localised, and targeted ground raids' against Hezbollah in southern Lebanese villages.
'These raids will target Hezbollah strongholds that threaten Israeli towns, kibbutzim and communities along our border,' said military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, adding: 'Hezbollah turned Lebanese villages next to Israeli villages into military bases ready for an attack on Israel.'
But more hardline elements of Israel's government, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, this morning called for a wider operation to 'crush the terrorist organisation'.
Dystopian images that emerged early this morning showed Israeli flares and munitions lighting up the night sky in southern Lebanon, softening up Hezbollah positions in preparation for the IDF incursion.
The ground operation, which comes nearly a year on from Hamas' October 7 attacks, was given the green light yesterday, three days after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was confirmed dead following a devastating attack in Beirut.
Meanwhile, Israel's air force continued to pound targets across Lebanon with brutal airstrikes, while also hitting Damascus in Syria and various locations in Gaza.
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