Live Updates: Israel launches ‘limited’ ground invasion in south Lebanon
The Israel army announced in the early hours of Tuesday morning local time that it had begun a limited ground invasion in southern Lebanon, marking the first such Israeli operation in Lebanon in 18 years.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a statement that the army had launched “limited, localized and targeted ground raids" in southern Lebanon, adding that the operations are based on "precise intelligence on Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure." As the situation escalated Monday, the Pentagon told reporters that the US will be sending additional reinforcements to the Middle East, including a "few thousand" troops, F-15E, F-16 and F-22 fighter jets, to enhance aerial defense capabilities for US troops in the region and Israel.
More than 1,000 people have been killed and over 6,000 injured by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since Sept. 16, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Within Lebanon, 200,000 people are displaced, while over 100,000 people have fled to Syria.