The Israel Defense Forces have launched a limited ground operation against the Shiite organization Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, the IDF press service reported.
According to the publication, Israeli forces are engaged in identifying and destroying terrorist infrastructure, as well as neutralizing militants. Prior to the ground actions, firepower was used, resulting in many terrorist targets being attacked from both the air and the ground.
The IDF clarified that this operation is aimed at "strengthening forward defensive positions," which should ensure safety for the citizens of northern Israel.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since March 2, when the Lebanese group attacked the naval base in Haifa in the north of the country in support of Iran.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, as a result of Israeli attacks, at least 394 people have died, including 83 children, and more than 1,130 people have been injured.
Israeli military officials, in turn, reported the deaths of two of their soldiers during the hostilities.
On March 3, the IDF announced the elimination of the commander of the Lebanese Quds Force — the foreign unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — Daoud Ali Zadeh, who became the temporary commander after the death of his predecessor, Hassan Mahdavi. He was also killed as a result of an Israeli strike.
Earlier, Al-Mayadeen reported on an attempt by Israeli forces to land troops in the mountains of Lebanon in search of the remains of Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad, who was captured in 1986 after his F-4 Phantom aircraft was shot down. His family urged the authorities to cease the search if it could threaten the safety of military personnel.
