Israel's 'limited ground war' begins...Ground troops for the first time in 18 years.

[Anchor]
Israel has launched a limited ground operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon's southern border region.

For the first time in 18 years since 2006, the crisis in the Middle East is at its peak, with tanked ground forces crossing the Lebanese border.

Reporter Park So-jung reports.

[Reporter]
In the dark, red flames explode nonstop with the sound of explosions.

This is the southern border of Lebanon.

Early morning of October 1st local time,
Israeli ground forces crossed the Lebanese border with support from helicopters, drones and artillery
.

About two hours after the attack began, the Israeli military officially declared a ground war in a statement.

" limited and local ground raids based on information about armed groups in Lebanon, targets in Hezbollah," it said.

However, it did not mention the specific scope or duration of the operation.

Earlier, the Israeli military prepared for ground war by declaring several border villages a military restriction zone and blocking them.

More than 120 tanks and armored vehicles were reportedly mobilized in the operation.

After hours of discussion, Israel's security cabinet reportedly approved the next stage of military operations, or ground warfare.

[Joab Galant / Israeli Defense Minister: Removing Hasan Nasrallah (head of Hezbollah) is a very important step, but that is not all]

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

Unlike when Hezbollah's head, Hassan Nasrallah, was removed, this time the United States was informed of its operational plans in advance.

Hezbollah, which had foreshadowed a deadly war, claimed that militias had attacked Israeli ground forces.

[Sheikh Naim Qasem / Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General: If Israel decides to enter by land, our resistance is ready for ground fighting.]

The crisis in the Middle East is at its peak as Israel moves one step closer to all-out war with ground operations.

I'm Park Sojung of YTN.