Israel "Starting limited ground operations"...Hezbollah "Ready to fight"

[Anchor]
Israeli forces have launched limited ground operations against Lebanese armed factions, Hezbollah.

It is the first time in 18 years that Israel has deployed ground forces since 2006.

The crisis of escalation in the Middle East is reaching its peak.

I'm connecting with the reporter. Reporter from YouTube!

You announced that the Israeli army has officially launched ground operations?

[Reporter]
The Israeli military made an official statement around 8 a.m. in our time.

It says it has launched a limited and local ground operation targeting Hezbollah's targets on Lebanon's southern border.

However, it has not yet mentioned the scale, scope or target of the specific operation.

Before the Israeli military's official statement, Hezbollah also said it had captured Israeli military moves across Lebanon's border.

It added that Lebanese militias attacked Israeli troops crossing the border.

Arab media, including Al Jazeera, also reported that Israeli military tanks had entered several Lebanese border villages.

In connection with this, the Lebanese army also reportedly withdrew its troops at the border 5km rear and re-deployed them.

Earlier, Israel's security cabinet reportedly approved the next stage of military operations after hours of discussion.

[Anchor]
It's been 18 years since Israeli forces have sent ground troops into Lebanon, but it doesn't seem to be an all-out invasion yet,

[Reporter]
It is difficult to say definitively because the situation at the Lebanese border is not being confirmed accurately.

However, combining the reports of various foreign media, as you said, it seems difficult to see it as a full-scale invasion yet.

The Israeli military also stressed in its official statement that it was a limited and local operation.

Israeli media also reported that the goal of the ground operation was to remove infrastructure used by Hezbollah's special forces at the border.

In this regard, the United States, which was informed of the operation in advance by Israel, also emphasized that it was a limited operation.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller explained that the agency is currently conducting limited operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.

U.S. media also reported that there were small ground operations by special forces.

Therefore, it is still unclear whether it will lead to a full-fledged invasion through the deployment of ground warfare as in 2006.

[Anchor]
Nevertheless, tensions in the Middle East will be inevitable,

[Reporter]
As you said, it is clear that the war against Hezbollah has taken a new turn as ground forces are deployed.

Hezbollah's power has weakened significantly, but it has already predicted several battles, so there is a possibility that fierce battles will continue.

There is also the possibility of a counterattack by other Islamic forces in the Middle East, sponsored by Iran.

In fact, just before the ground operation began, a U.S. military base in Baghdad, Iraq, was attacked by rockets.

However, it is known that the launched rocket was intercepted with air defense.

Iran, which holds the key to all-out war, may also be forced to intervene in earnest.

For this reason, even after the limited ground war began, the United States repeatedly demanded a ceasefire.
U.S. President Biden reaffirmed his opposition to ground fighting, saying, "We need to make a ceasefire now."

Earlier in 2006, Israel fought an all-out war across the border to rescue two soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah, but ended the fighting in 34 days after losing 121 troops.

I'll tell you again as soon as I get more detailed news.

So far, ytn YouTube in the international department.