--- title: "Israel Expands Ground Operation In Lebanon As World Braces For Retaliation Against Iran" description: "Israeli forces look to have conducted yet another targeted strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon's capital Beirut and have expanded [their ground incursions]() in the southern end of that country. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also say they shot down a…" date: "2024-10-07" modified: "2024-10-07" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick" url: "https://www.twz.com/news-features/israel-expands-ground-operation-in-lebanon-as-world-braces-for-retaliation-against-iran" categories: - "Air" - "Air Forces" - "Around The Globe" - "Iran" - "Israel" - "Israeli Air Force" - "Middle East" - "News & Features" - "Terrorism" --- # Israel Expands Ground Operation In Lebanon As World Braces For Retaliation Against Iran ![Israel marks the first anniversary of Hamas' infamous terrorist attacks last year, which touched off what the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now described as a "war of resurrection."]() *AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images* Israeli forces look to have conducted yet another targeted strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon's capital Beirut and have expanded [their ground incursions]() in the southern end of that country. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also say they shot down a ballistic missile headed toward the center of the country today, which Houthi militants in Yemen had fired. This all comes as Israel marks the first anniversary of [Hamas' large-scale terrorist attacks last year](), which touched off what the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now described as a "war of resurrection" (or "rebirth" or "revival" [depending on the translation]()). There continue to be fears of an even broader regional conflict depending on how Israel responds to [Iran's ballistic missile barrage]() last week. What specific type of missile the Houthis fired at Israel today is unclear, but it was reportedly downed [outside the atmosphere]() by [an Arrow-3 interceptor](). Concerns about debris from the engagement posing a risk to bystanders on the ground caused air raid sirens to blare across a broad area of central Israel. The incoming missile also looks to have temporarily disrupted commercial air traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, though it is unknown currently if that was the intended target. The Yemeni militants targeted [Tel Aviv for the first time]() in September. https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1843304454952816945 https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1843302552441585990 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1843304198374617419 The IDF [confirmed a strike]() against a target in Beirut earlier today, but did not immediately provide additional details. Prime Minister Netanyahu also [reportedly called an urgent, unplanned meeting]() with senior ministers and defense and security officials, but it is unclear if the two events are in any way related. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1843271778245935513 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1843269367204839581 Israeli media [has reported]() that the latest strike in Beirut occurred without notice, which points to a targeted strike against one or more particular individuals or other high-value assets. The IDF often [issues public warnings for civilians]() to evacuate certain areas ahead of more general strikes and other operations. [Reports also say]() that the particular area of Beirut that was hit was where Hashem Safieddine, second-in-command of Hezbollah, [was targeted]() and [possibly killed last week](). Israel has been very actively targeting the leadership of the Lebanese terrorist group, as well as [its weapons stockpiles]() and [communications networks](), for weeks now. A [particularly huge Israeli strike on Beirut]() on September 27 killed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's long-time leader, among others. Hezbollah's number two Safieddine was widely seen as Nasrallah's likely successor. Just this past weekend, Israel launched [additional strikes on the Lebanese capital]() said to target Hezbollah weapon storage facilities, which caused an especially massive blast with numerous secondary explosions. https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1843051859273302062 The IDF separately announced an expansion of its ground operations targeting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon earlier today. Elements of three brigades assigned to the 91st “Galilee” Division – the 3rd "Alexandroni," the 8th "Hativa Shmoneh," and the 228th "Alon" – [have now moved into Lebanon](). The 91st Division has long been tasked with guarding Israel's [northern border with Lebanon]() and its 769th "Hiram" Brigade" remains in Israel to continue that mission. The 91st is the third Israeli division to send forces into Lebanese territory since ground [operations as part of the current campaign began]() on September 30-October 1. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1843171162827985386 https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1843167954185470258 https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1843168003934040316 Israel continues to describe its incursion into southern Lebanon [as "focused and demarcated,"]() but the 91st entering the fight has raised questions [about the expected scale and scope]() of the ground mission. Last week, the [IDF issued new evacuation warnings]() to Lebanese civilians in communities north of an existing United Nations-monitored buffer zone that pointed to a widening operations area. As already noted, all of these developments come as Israel has now marked the one-year anniversary of Hamas' unprecedented attacks on October 7, 2023, which have precipitated the current regional conflagration. Hamas launched [a new round of rocket attacks]() on Israel today that coincided with the exact time it launched its operation a year ago. https://twitter.com/HenMazzig/status/1843205926121251229 https://twitter.com/HenMazzig/status/1843299077435662535 Hezbollah has also been launching attacks on Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian militants since October 8 of last year. The Houthis in Yemen have also been [targeting Israel for months now](), including with the ballistic missile launched today. All of these groups are backed by Iran, which has [itself launched two barrages]() against [Israeli sites](). Israel continues to conduct operations targeting Hamas and other Palestinian militants [in the Gaza Strip]() and [the West Bank](), and has also launched its own strikes [on targets in Yemen]() and [Iran](). "Since that black day, we have been fighting," Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a speech during a televised cabinet meeting today. "This is our war of existence – the 'war of resurrection'." https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1843282070459879605 https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1843271245854658613 Netanyahu's comments come amid growing concerns that the existing regional conflict could expand much further, especially after Israel's expected retaliation against Iran over the ballistic missile strikes last week. *The War Zone* and others have noted in the past that escalating Iranian strikes could lead Israel to target the former's oil or nuclear infrastructure, which in turn could provoke even stronger reactions from Tehran. Satellite imagery and ship tracking data have shown a [recent exodus of Iranian tanker ships]() from Kharg Island, which handles the bulk of the country's oil exports, ahead of potential Israeli strikes there. Satellite imagery also points to the departure of a significant number of Iranian warships from the port of Bandar Abbas. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1841905672025473218 https://twitter.com/Schizointel/status/1842295006125580682 Israeli and Iranian officials have already been trading fiery rhetoric in the wake of the recent ballistic missile barrage by the latter on the former. Just yesterday, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, head of Iran's Army, warned [of “stronger and more destructive” attacks]() if Israel responded in kind to the latest volley of Iranian missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu [had said]() that "Iran made a big mistake tonight – and it will pay for it" after the missile barrage last week. There continue to be concerns about how further fighting directly between Israel and Iran might draw in other actors, especially the United States. The U.S. military [has already been actively engaged]() in [defending Israel]() against attacks from Iran. U.S. Army Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), notably met with his Israeli counterparts in person yesterday. https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1843212669924372814 https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1843339414409490715 President Joe Biden has said the U.S. government would not support [Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure](), which would be a major escalation, but there is also no indication that [this would prevent Israeli forces]() from doing so. Israeli media [has reported today]() that the Biden administration has offered its Israeli counterparts a "compensation package" that includes additional military aid to abstain from major retaliation against Iran. "Far too many civilians have suffered far too much during this year of conflict *—* and tens of thousands have been killed, a human toll made far worse by terrorists hiding and operating among innocent people. We will not stop working to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, allows for a surge in humanitarian aid to ease the suffering on the ground, assures Israel’s security, and ends this war," Biden [said in a statement]() marking the October 7 attacks. "Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve to live in security, dignity, and peace. We also continue to believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israel-Lebanon border region is the only path to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes." “Israel will respond to the unprecedented Iranian attack in the manner of our choosing, and at the time and place of our choosing" and "everything is on the table," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also [said on Sunday](). “\[But\] we are powerful when we are aligned, and I want to make sure of it." If nothing else, after a year of expanding fighting between Israeli forces and various militant groups around the region, as well as Iran itself, what Prime Minister Netanyahu has now dubbed the "war of resurrection" shows no signs of slowing down. Israeli forces are now actively engaged along three fronts with the worry now that a fourth more perilous one may open soon. *Contact the author: [*joe@twz.com*]()* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()