The Israeli military invaded southern Lebanon Monday when it launched so-called "limited ground operations" against the country's Iran-backed armed group, Hezbollah.
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when the Tehran-backed Hezbollah targeted Israel in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes.
Israel responded with air raids on its northern neighbor and troop incursions into border areas.
"In recent days, IDF troops from the 91st division have begun limited and targeted ground operations against key Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon, aimed at enhancing the forward defence area," the military said in a statement.
"This activity is part of broader defensive efforts to establish and strengthen a forward defensive posture, which includes the dismantling of ... infrastructure and the elimination of ... operating in the area, in order to remove threats and create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel," it said.
