GROUND WAR EXPANDS: Divison 91 Soldiers Are Now In Southern Lebanon to Shield Northern Galilee
The operation follows weeks of heightened fighting tied to the broader regional war involving Israel, Iran, and Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East. According to the military, the goal of the advance is to remove immediate threats near the border and create what it called an “additional layer of security” for Israeli communities in the north.
The IDF’s 91st Division launched a significant ground operation in southern Lebanon on Monday, pushing farther into Hezbollah-controlled territory in what officials described as a major escalation along the northern front.
The operation follows weeks of heightened fighting tied to the broader regional war involving Israel, Iran, and Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East. According to the military, the goal of the advance is to remove immediate threats near the border and create what it called an “additional layer of security” for Israeli communities in the north.
The IDF said the ground push was preceded by artillery barrages and airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions throughout southern Lebanon. These strikes were intended to weaken militant infrastructure before troops moved forward.
Despite the scale of the operation, the military emphasized that it does not currently constitute a full invasion similar to the campaign carried out in 2024. Israeli forces are not advancing all the way to the Litani River, a key geographic benchmark often associated with larger ground offensives in Lebanon.
Instead, the operation appears focused on clearing Hezbollah positions closer to the Israeli border while maintaining defensive operations inside Israel itself.
Troops are continuing security missions in the Galilee to protect nearby communities, the military said. These efforts are intended to prevent cross-border infiltration or rocket attacks while the ground maneuver unfolds.
Officials noted that additional forces could be deployed if the fighting intensifies. Four IDF divisions have already been redeployed to northern Israel, and reinforcements could join the operation depending on developments on the ground.
The military framed the offensive as a response to Hezbollah’s decision to join the broader regional conflict. In a statement, the IDF said Hezbollah had “chosen to join the hostilities under the sponsorship of the Iranian terror regime” and vowed that Israel would continue acting to prevent attacks on Israeli civilians.
At the same time, Israeli officials said Hezbollah’s military capabilities have already been severely degraded during the war.
According to the IDF, between 85 percent and 90 percent of Hezbollah’s pre-2023 rocket arsenal has been destroyed. Before the conflict began, the group was believed to possess more than 150,000 rockets.
The new ground push suggests Israel is now attempting to further reduce the remaining threat along the northern border while the broader regional confrontation continues to unfold.