Israeli military confirms limited ground invasion of Lebanon has begun

Update - 7:45 p.m. ET: The Israel Defense Forces on Monday night issued a statement saying it had begun what it characterized as limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. It said those targets were located in villages close to Lebanon's southern border with Israel. The operation, which the IDF called "Northern Arrows" is supported by the Israeli Air Force and IDF Artillery, according to the statement.

Original Story:

U.S. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller on Monday confirmed that Israel had told U.S. officials that it was conducting limited incursions into Lebanon as part of its fight against the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah. Those operations were focusing on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border between Israel and Lebanon, Miller said. The Wall Street Journal on Monday reported that a much larger military incursion could follow the ongoing limited incursions.

The Israel Defense Forces in a social media statement on Monday hinted that the conflict with Hezbollah would soon be progressing to another stage. Israeli ground forces this week conducted training exercises in preparation for unspecified plans that military leaders had crafted, the IDF said on its website. The IDF continued to take credit on social media for strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon during the afternoon on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told leaders during a government meeting that the Israeli people were in a war for their very existence. He promised Israel would “arise like a lioness” and defeat its enemies. He added that while Israel looked forward to Rosh Hashanah, or the start of the Jewish New Year, the war was entering a decisive period that presented major challenges.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about Israel’s strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon over the past few days.