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The Israeli military has increased its deployment in Lebanon, sending thousands more troops as it plans to intensify its ground offensive against Hizbollah. This move coincides with Hizbollah launching a significant rocket barrage into northern Israel, the largest since tensions escalated a year prior.
On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that a fourth combat division had been dispatched to southern Lebanon, suggesting that Israel might now have over 20,000 troops in the region—a sharp increase from the initial invasion force. The IDF has not disclosed official figures on troop numbers, though divisions are generally expected to contain 10,000 soldiers each.
This surge in military presence comes as the IDF issues evacuation orders to more than two dozen villages in southwestern Lebanon and delivers “urgent warnings” in Arabic to those along the Lebanese coast up to the Awali river, north of Sidon, urging them to avoid the sea and beaches for their safety.
IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee relayed the message through social media platform X.
On the same day, Israeli warplanes targeted sites in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Despite the increasing Israeli air and ground operations, Hizbollah retaliated with a substantial rocket barrage aimed at northern Israel. According to the Israeli military, 85 rockets targeted Haifa and surrounding areas in one salvo, with a subsequent barrage of about 20 rockets following a televised address by Hizbollah’s deputy chief Naim Qassem. While most of these were intercepted by air defenses or landed in open regions, one individual sustained minor injuries from shrapnel.
In his speech, Qassem affirmed Hizbollah’s determination to continue its fight, referencing the group’s attacks on Israel as proof of its capabilities despite the recent death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli strike. He indicated that Hizbollah would support diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire, although it has insisted that fighting would cease only once a ceasefire is established in Gaza.
Hizbollah has engaged in conflict with Israel since Hamas’s offensive in southern Israel on October 7 of the previous year, aligning with Gaza-based militants. The risk of a region-wide escalation has grown, particularly after Iran launched approximately 180 missiles at Israel last week, provoking promises of reprisal from the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, addressing diplomats and officials in Tehran, warned that any Israeli attack on Iranian infrastructure would be met with a strong response, emphasizing the precision and strength of Iranian missiles. Araghchi, who planned a tour of Gulf states starting with Saudi Arabia, added that Iran was ready for any scenario but prioritized de-escalating tensions and securing a ceasefire for Gaza and Lebanon.
In a signal of potential further military action, the IDF declared four villages near the Lebanese border in northwestern Israel as closed military zones on Tuesday. Similar measures have been taken in other border regions over the past weeks, prior to ground incursions.
These developments have displaced approximately 60,000 Israelis from the north due to Hizbollah’s attacks. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the objective of the offensive against Lebanon is to secure the border area to enable these displaced residents to return.
According to the Lebanese government, around 1.2 million people have been displaced, primarily Shiite Muslims from southern Lebanon and the suburbs of Beirut, including Dahiyeh, the site of Hizbollah’s headquarters, which has experienced significant bombardment by Israel over the past two weeks.
On Monday, Israel commemorated the first anniversary of the October 7 attack, and Hizbollah responded by launching about 135 rockets towards northern Israel, followed by projectiles targeting central areas.
Additional reporting by Najmeh Bozorgmehr and Malaika Kanaaneh Tapper
Cartography by Jana Tauschinski and Steven Bernard
