"Limited" attacks What is known about the Israeli ground offensive so far

Israel has launched a limited ground offensive against the Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon during the night. The Israeli army speaks of targeted attacks on targets near the border, while the air force again bombed areas near Beirut. This is what is known so far.

The situation in the Middle East has reached a new level of escalation with a ground offensive launched by Israel against the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon during the night. The Israeli army spoke of "limited" attacks on targets near the border and called them an immediate threat to communities in northern Israel. Israel's air force also bombed targets near the Lebanese capital Beirut again in the late evening. The situation in Lebanon is dramatic: according to Lebanese reports, almost 100 people have died in the country within 24 hours. Meanwhile, rockets were also fired at Israel again. Meanwhile, the USA warned Iran of retaliatory strikes.

Ground troops supported by air force and artillery

Israel's army announced on X that a few hours ago it had begun "limited, localized and targeted ground attacks based on precise intelligence information against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon". These targets of the pro-Iranian Shiite militia are located in villages near the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.

The Israeli air force and artillery supported the ground forces with precise attacks on military targets in this area. The army is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes. The operation will continue in parallel with the fighting in the Gaza Strip against Hamas and in other areas. The soldiers have been trained for the operation in recent months. Israel wants to enable the return of 60,000 Israelis who have been displaced from areas along the border by Hezbollah attacks for months.

Hezbollah shows itself ready to fight

On Monday, for the first time since the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Islamist militia spoke out and signaled its readiness to fight. "We know that the battle could take a long time and we are prepared for all possibilities," said deputy Hezbollah leader Naim Kassim in a televised speech. "If Israel decides to launch a ground offensive: We are ready." He did not say who would lead Hezbollah.

Rockets and drones also aimed at Israel

Rockets also flew towards Israel early on Tuesday morning. The army announced on Telegram that around ten missiles had been intercepted in the Meron area in northern Israel. Some had crashed in open terrain. In addition, the air defense recently intercepted a drone dozens of kilometers off the coast of central Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed to have attacked Israeli soldiers near the southern border. It was reported in the evening that they had been moving on the Israeli side in fruit groves near the border. There were also casualties on the Israeli side as a result of the attacks.

The conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militia has recently intensified dramatically. For days, the Israeli military has been massively attacking targets in the neighboring country, including, according to its own account, Hezbollah weapons depots. Lebanon reported hundreds of dead and injured. On Friday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other Hezbollah fighters were killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike.

Hezbollah has also fired hundreds of rockets at Israel on some days since the renewed intense fighting. The militia opened its so-called "solidarity front" after the outbreak of the Gaza war and fired thousands of rockets at Israel.

Attacks also near Beirut and in Syria

The Israeli air force also bombed targets near the Lebanese capital Beirut again. A reporter for the German Press Agency reported at least seven heavy explosions and tremors in a southern suburb in the evening. Previously, an Israeli army spokesperson had called on residents of the southern suburbs of Beirut to leave their homes and apartments via social media.

Meanwhile, according to a media report, three people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital Damascus. Three civilians were killed and nine others injured in attacks on several locations in the city, Syria's state news agency Sana reported early on Tuesday morning, citing a military source.

USA readjusts in view of tense situation in the Middle East

The ground offensive had been expected. According to the US government, Israel had informed Washington of limited military operations on the Lebanese border. Israel had stated that these were "limited operations" focusing on "Hezbollah infrastructure near the border", said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. According to military circles, the Lebanese army had withdrawn soldiers from the border before the Israeli ground offensive began. Several areas in northern Israel were declared a restricted military area.

In the evening, the Pentagon declared that it would adjust its military capabilities in the Middle East accordingly in view of the current situation. "We have increased the readiness of additional US forces to respond to various contingencies," said spokeswoman Sabrina Singh. This means that troops already stationed in the Middle East will remain deployed for longer. Troops originally intended to replace them would be called in for further reinforcement. In particular, it is about defense from the air.

Dramatic situation in Lebanon

Tens of thousands of Lebanese have fled their villages and towns. Many are holding out in the capital Beirut. The latest escalation is likely to bring back memories of the last war between Israel and Hezbollah 18 years ago for many of the country's approximately nine million inhabitants. The United Nations had urgently warned Israel against a ground offensive.

Embassy staff flown out

In view of the worsening situation, an air force plane flew embassy staff out of Beirut. According to the Federal Foreign Office, there were around 110 passengers on board the Bundeswehr aircraft. It landed in Berlin at the capital's BER airport in the evening, as confirmed by a Foreign Office spokeswoman. Great Britain chartered an aircraft for the departure of its citizens, which is scheduled to take off on Wednesday.