Israeli military had begun limited, localized and targeted raids against Hezbollah targets in the border area of southern Lebanon, it said in a statement early on Tuesday.
The targets, it said, pose an “immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.” The military said the operation had been planned in recent months and was launched after approval by political leaders.
Lebanese troops pulled back from the border with Israel late on Monday as a ground invasion by Israel looked imminent, just days after Israel killed the head of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah in an escalation of regional tensions.
At least two Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, a security source said, with a Reuters reporter seeing a flash of light and hearing a loud blast about an hour after the Israeli military had warned residents to evacuate areas near buildings it said contained Hezbollah infrastructure south of the Lebanese capital.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Monday Israel informed the U.S. about the raids, which he said were described as “limited operations.”
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told local council heads in northern Israel that the next phase of the war along Lebanon’s southern border would begin soon, and would support the aim of bringing home Israelis who have fled Hezbollah rockets during nearly a year of border warfare.
He also told troops: “We will use all the means that may be required – your forces, other forces, from the air, from the sea, and on land. Good luck.”
Lebanese troops pulled back from positions along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel to about five kilometers (3 miles) north of the border, a Lebanese security source told Reuters.
A Lebanese army spokesperson did not confirm or deny the movement.
Lebanon’s army has historically stayed on the sidelines of major conflicts with Israel, and in the last year of hostilities has not fired on the Israeli military.
Amal Al-Hourani, mayor of Jdeidet Marjayoun, a Christian-majority Lebanese village less than 10 km from the border, told Reuters that two locals had received calls apparently from the Israeli army telling them to evacuate the area as soon as possible.
The Israeli military declared the areas around the communities of Metula, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon as a closed military zone and said entry to the areas was prohibited.
As speculation grew that the ground operation was imminent, an Israeli military spokesperson issued a statement on social media platform X, telling Israelis not to “spread irresponsible rumors” about troop movements and activities.