### **Video Shows Israel and Hezbollah Trading Strikes Amid IDF’s Ground Operation**
**Israel’s Ground Operation in Lebanon: Key Developments**
– **Operation Northern Arrows**: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground invasion, named Operation “Northern Arrows,” targeting Hezbollah’s military positions near the Israel-Lebanon border. The operation was meticulously planned by the General Staff and the Northern Command, with soldiers having trained for months in preparation.
– **Escalation and Airstrikes**: The ground invasion follows weeks of Israeli airstrikes that have left hundreds dead and many more injured across Lebanon. The air force and artillery have conducted “precise strikes,” with reports of heavy shelling, helicopters, and drones over the border area. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had hinted at this escalation during a meeting with local council leaders in northern Israel, indicating that the next phase of the conflict along Lebanon’s southern border would soon begin.
– **Hezbollah’s Response**: In response to Israel’s ground invasion, Hezbollah has vowed to confront Israeli forces on the ground. Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, declared in a televised address, “We will confront any possibility, and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land.” He added that Hezbollah’s forces have been actively firing rockets into Israeli territory, reaching distances as far as 150 kilometers (93 miles).
– **Humanitarian Toll**: The conflict has already displaced thousands of Israelis living in northern communities, with the IDF focusing on securing these areas to enable residents to return home. On the Lebanese side, civilians are also bearing the brunt of the violence, with heavy artillery and airstrikes reported across multiple regions. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 1,000 fatalities and has forced nearly one million people to flee.
– **International Involvement**: The international community is closely watching the situation. US officials continue to advocate for a ceasefire, acknowledging the possibility of a limited ground invasion by Israel into Lebanon. Iran has declared that it will not let Israel’s actions go unanswered, emphasizing the necessity of preventing a full-scale war in the Middle East.
