What's happened
On October 1, 2024, Israel confirmed a limited ground operation in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah. This follows extensive airstrikes and escalating tensions, including the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The operation aims to dismantle Hezbollah's military capabilities near the Israeli border.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, Israel's military confirmed the ground operation was aimed at crippling Hezbollah's forces, stating, 'the invasion is necessary to return tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to their homes.' Meanwhile, The Independent reported that Hezbollah has not observed any Israeli forces and is prepared for confrontation, indicating a potential for prolonged conflict. Sky News highlighted that this marks the first entry of regular Israeli troops into Lebanon since 2006, emphasizing the operation's significance in the context of ongoing tensions.
How we got here
The current conflict escalated after weeks of Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, which intensified following the killing of Nasrallah. Israel's military has long viewed Hezbollah as a significant threat, particularly after the 2006 war and ongoing rocket fire into northern Israel.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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Hassan Nasrallah is the third and current Secretary General of the Lebanese political and paramilitary party Hezbollah since his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, was assassinated by the Israel Defense Forces in February 1992.