Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) commandos are reportedly engaged in operations inside southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions. The operation comes in the wake of an explosion that wounded four IDF soldiers during a covert mission several hundred meters inside Lebanese territory an attack that Hezbollah quickly claimed responsibility for.
The Israeli military indicated that the explosion took place during an “operational activity” involving elite units from the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance team and the Yahalom combat engineering squad. The presence of the Yahalom unit which specializes in tunnel operations points to a focused effort by the IDF to identify and neutralize tunnels built by Hezbollah that may extend into Israel.
Israeli Commandos Operating Inside Lebanon to Remove Hezbollah https://t.co/otsKf3F2Lm via @BreitbartNews
— James Keay (@reach147) April 16, 2024
Concurrently the IDF carried out airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon primarily hitting buildings being used by the terror group. Artillery shelling originating from the Israeli side of the border has also been reported.
Since the beginning of October Hezbollah has escalated its attacks on northern Israeli communities and military posts using a combination of rockets drones and anti-tank missiles. This offensive is part of Hezbollah’s declared support for Gaza in the midst of ongoing conflicts there. Iran has reportedly been directing and funding Hezbollah as well as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad inside Lebanon.
The unrelenting aggression from Hezbollah has forced around 70,000 Israeli civilians to evacuate from areas near the conflict zone disrupting lives and livelihoods. The skirmishes have claimed the lives of 10 IDF soldiers and reservists while Hezbollah has admitted to losing 274 of its fighters mostly in Lebanon.
The U.N. has deployed peacekeepers in southern Lebanon under the provisions of Security Council Resolution 1707. Although the resolution is intended to prevent Hezbollah from maintaining a military presence near the Israeli border it has largely failed to achieve that goal. The Israeli military is increasingly voicing public frustration over the ineffectiveness of U.N. mandates.
As the situation evolves the international community’s response will be pivotal in determining the next steps. While the West is urging the continuation of diplomatic efforts if those efforts fail Israel likely will see no alternative but to intensify its military responses.
The ongoing risk of escalation is heightening tensions across the Middle East and globally.
