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!

Has the Israeli army officially announced the launch of ground operations?

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

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

It also added that the air force and artillery are supporting the operation.

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

Hezbollah has also confirmed that the ground war has begun.

Hezbollah says Israeli troops were spotted crossing the Lebanese border before the Israeli military's official statement, and Lebanese militias attacked it.

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

There were also moves by Lebanese forces in relation to this.

The troops at the border were reportedly withdrawn 5km rearward and re-deployed.

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

[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.

Some foreign media reports that there is now fighting in the border area,

However, if you put together several reports, it seems difficult to see it as a full-scale invasion, as you said.

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 operation was to remove infrastructure used by Hezbollah's Radwan special forces.

The United States, which was informed of the operation in advance by Israel, also stressed that it was a limited operation.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller explained that limited operations are currently being carried out to target Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.

Therefore, it is still unclear whether it will lead to a full-scale invasion through full-scale ground troops as in 2006.

[Anchor]
Nevertheless, tensions in the Middle East are inevitable, and the U.S. has deployed additional troops to the Middle East.

[Reporter]
The U.S. Department of Defense has officially announced that it will send thousands more U.S. troops to the Middle East.

If additional troops are deployed, the size of the U.S. military in the Middle East, which is currently around 40,000, is said to be up to 43,000.

The additional troops reportedly included fighter battalions and support personnel, such as F-15 and F-16.

Earlier, the U.S. announced its plan to extend the current presence of Lincoln aircraft carrier fleets in the Middle East to deploy two aircraft carrier fleets overall.

[Anchor]
Such a U.S. military move would be in preparation for the possibility of Hezbollah as well as other forces in the Middle East attacking Israel, what are the prospects for the future?

[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.

Other Islamic forces in the Middle East, sponsored by Iran, could launch a full-fledged counterattack.

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

However, the rocket was reportedly shot down by air defense.

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

For this reason, the United States, which has been informed of limited ground warfare, has repeatedly called for a ceasefire.
U.S. President Biden reaffirmed his opposition to ground fighting, saying, "We need to make a ceasefire now."

Earlier, in 2006, Israel went all-out across the border to rescue two soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah.

However, they lost more than 120 troops and completed the fighting in 34 days.

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

So far, ytn YouTube in the international department.