Israel is poised to carry out a limited ground operation in southern Lebanon, focusing on clearing Hezbollah infrastructure near Israeli border communities, according to a US official and an Israeli source familiar with military deliberations who spoke with the Washington Post.
The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, told The Washington Post that the Biden administration had initially believed Israel was planning a major ground invasion. However, the plan has been significantly scaled down, now centering on destroying Hezbollah tunnels, rocket launchers, weapons caches, and other infrastructure before withdrawing forces.
"Israel has plans for a limited operation that will be imminent. They are in line with the Americans. The understanding is that they are not going to do another Gaza," said the Israeli source, who also requested anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.
According to the US official, Israeli forces are expected to conduct limited raids in several villages along the border, as announced by the Israeli military on Monday morning. The strategic aim is to diminish Hezbollah's capacity to attack Israeli border communities.
"We do not expect it will look like 2006," the US official stated, referencing the previous Israeli invasion of Lebanon where Israeli forces became entangled in weeks of fighting, resulting in 121 soldier casualties.
While the Biden administration supports Israel's right to defend itself, it remains concerned about the potential for a limited operation to escalate into a larger, prolonged conflict. The official confirmed that these concerns are being discussed with Israeli counterparts. This planned operation comes in the wake of recent Israeli airstrikes that have dealt significant blows to Hezbollah's leadership. On Friday, Israel killed Hasan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's longtime leader, in an airstrike in Beirut. In the past ten days, at least six of Nasrallah's top commanders and officials have also been eliminated, severely impacting a militia known for its formidable arsenal and broad strategic reach in the Middle East.
