JERUSALEM — Israeli forces launched a new phase of ground operations in southern Lebanon on Thursday following a series of rocket attacks from the area, the Israeli military said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that troops conducted targeted operations against Hezbollah infrastructure in response to recent rocket fire into northern Israel. Details of the exact scope of the latest incursion remained unclear early Friday.
The move came amid ongoing cross-border clashes that have persisted since Israeli ground operations first began in southern Lebanon in March 2026. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, has continued sporadic rocket and drone attacks despite multiple ceasefire attempts.
Lebanese state media and security sources reported Israeli strikes and troop movements in areas near the border, including regions around Nabatiyeh and Beaufort Castle. At least four people were killed in recent strikes in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese officials.
The IDF said the operations aimed to neutralize immediate threats and strengthen a forward defense posture along the border. "This activity is part of broader defensive efforts to establish and strengthen a forward defensive posture," the military said in a statement.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for recent attacks on Israeli positions in southern Lebanon, including artillery shelling near Beaufort and strikes on military vehicles south of Nabatiyeh. The group said its actions were in response to Israeli incursions.
The escalation follows fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks between Israel and the Lebanese government earlier this week. On Wednesday, both sides announced provisional agreement on a new truce, but Hezbollah rejected the terms, demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Fighting resumed shortly afterward.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has previously stated that forces would remain in southern Lebanon until security threats to northern Israel are eliminated and residents can return safely.
The conflict, which intensified in March after Hezbollah launched rockets in coordination with broader regional tensions involving Iran, has displaced hundreds of thousands on both sides of the border. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has reported attacks on its positions and called for de-escalation.
Casualty figures remain difficult to verify independently. Lebanese authorities have reported thousands killed since March, mostly in Israeli strikes, while Israel has reported soldier deaths and civilian injuries from Hezbollah attacks.
As of early Friday, the IDF said operations were continuing in southern Lebanon with support from airstrikes and artillery. Lebanese officials said residents in affected areas were urged to evacuate. No immediate updates on new casualties from Thursday's ground activities were available.
The situation along the Israel-Lebanon border remains volatile, with both sides accusing the other of violating ceasefire understandings. UNIFIL continues monitoring the area but has faced restrictions on movement.
