Israel launches ground operation into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah strongholds

• Israel confirmed it launched a ground offensive against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
• The IDF said Tuesday it began "limited, localized, and targeted ground raids" a few hours ago.
• The move opens up a new front between the Israeli military and the Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it launched a "limited" ground offensive against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

The operation officially opens up a new front in the escalating conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group, which traded cross-border strikes on a near-daily basis for almost a year.

"In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon," the Israeli military said in a statement early Tuesday morning local time.

"These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel," it added.

The Israeli military said it is supporting the ground forces in Lebanon with airstrikes and artillery on Hezbollah targets. It said Operation "Northern Arrows" would continue in parallel with the devastating war against Hamas in Gaza.

Fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah over the past year has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border. However, Israel has sharply increased the military pressure on its foe over the past two weeks, intending to eventually return Israelis to their homes.

These efforts began with Israel's sophisticated pager attacks and have transitioned to a campaign of intense and deadly airstrikes , including one that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday.

Israeli officials on Monday hinted that a ground invasion was imminent. Yoav Gallant, the country's defense minister, told troops near the border that "the elimination of Nasrallah is a very important step, but it is not the final one."

"Our goal is to ensure the [safe] return of Israel's northern communities to their homes. We are prepared to make every effort necessary to accomplish this mission," Gallant said. "We will use all the means that may be required — your forces, other forces, from the air, from the sea, and on land."

Israel has invaded Lebanon several times, most recently during a short but devastating war with Hezbollah in 2006. Officials have warned that an all-out conflict between the two enemies now could be extremely deadly for people on both sides of the border.

The ground operation on Tuesday likely raises the risk that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could expand, possibly bringing in the US and Iran.

The Pentagon has a wide array of naval, air, and land assets already in the Middle East to defend its troops and protect Israel, but it announced on Monday that more forces are on the way.

US Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.