Israeli army expands ground incursion in southern Lebanon, Chief of Staff approves

Israeli army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has approved an expansion of ground operations in southern Lebanon, state broadcaster KAN reported on Sunday.

The Israeli military initiated “limited, localized, and targeted” ground raids into southern Lebanon on Oct. 1, following a series of heavy airstrikes against what it claimed were Hezbollah targets. This move marked a significant escalation in the year-long cross-border conflict, which intensified after the outbreak of the Gaza war.

As of October 2023, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have resulted in over 3,100 deaths and more than 13,800 injuries, according to Lebanese health authorities.