The IDF is operating in southern Lebanon as part of Operation Roaring Lion, according to a Tuesday morning statement from Israel’s military.
Troops are stationed at several points along the Lebanon border in order to enhance defenses, the IDF stated. This is in addition to the five positions the Israeli military has held in southern Lebanon since the November 2024 ceasefire.
However, the IDF Northern Command said that it was unlikely to initiate a larger ground invasion into Lebanon until the situation with Iran was calmer, if at all.
According to the IDF, Hezbollah could fall apart without Iranian training and guidance, which they will have less of now that Iran’s regime itself is fighting for survival.
In addition, the IDF said that Hezbollah will be substantially harmed by losing access to Iranian funds, which were almost its sole source of support since the war started.
Next, the IDF said that Hezbollah has angered its own constituency who have not yet gotten reparations for their losses from the 2023-2024 conflict with Israel.
Collectively, the military said that all of these factors could finally lead to the Lebanese military disarming Hezbollah, though the organization still has power sources, so this remains an unpredictable question.
Most Hezbollah rockets land in sea, open areas
Regarding Hezbollah’s attack on Israel to date, the IDF stated that most Hezbollah rockets landed in the sea or open areas, with the IDF only having to shoot down one rocket.
To date, Hezbollah has not used its arsenal of thousands or more rockets, said the IDF.
Further, the IDF credited the Lebanese military for having tried to stop Hezbollah from going south toward Israel.
Moreover, the IDf said that most of Hezbollah’s 2,000 Radwan commandos did not travel south toward Israel, but stayed in Beirut for safety. Only a small number of Radwan made it south, the IDF said.
Syria has yet to take advantage of Iran conflict to attack Druze
Regarding the Syrian front, the IDF said that Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa’s forces have not tried to take advantage of the Iran conflict to attack the Syrian Druze.
The IDF expressed the hope that Al-Sharaa’s forces would prevent Iranian-sponsored Iraqi militias from coming through their territory toward Israel
Next, the IDF was very optimistic about the fact that so far, Israel’s northern residents did not need to evacuate officially, nor had many residents evacuated of their own initiative.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Tuesday morning that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the IDF enter and hold positions in Lebanese territory in order to prevent further danger to Israeli border communities.
“Hezbollah is paying, and will continue to pay, a price for its fire toward Israel,” Katz wrote. “We promised security for the communities of the Galilee, and that is what we will deliver.”
Operation Roaring Lion won’t conclude without removing Hezbollah threat, IDF chief vows
This comes after IDF Chief Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir vowed during a briefing with IDF division commanders on Monday that the operation would end with “Hezbollah suffering a devastating blow.”
“The Lebanese government and Lebanese Armed Forces have been warned numerous times to disarm Hezbollah recently. They did not act, and so we know how to defend ourselves with our own means. We will end this campaign with not just Iran being struck but with Hezbollah suffering a devastating blow,” Zamir stated.
“We will continue to insist that Hezbollah be disarmed – this is a demand we will not relinquish. The IDF will not conclude the campaign before the threat from Lebanon is eliminated,” he added.
“Our core effort is focused on Iran. We are operating with force and striking the terrorist regime in unprecedented coordination with the US military,” Zamir told the commanders. “After Hezbollah opened fire, I instructed that we act with force against Hezbollah as well. The IDF has planned and is prepared to operate in multiple arenas simultaneously.”
IDF says Lebanon invasion possible, Israel Katz declares Hezbollah chief Qassem a target
Earlier on Monday, IDF Chief Spokesman Effie Defrin said that it was still possible that the military might invade southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks overnight.
Defrin did not commit to such an invasion but notably did not rule it out.
Minutes after Defrin finished his press conference, Defense Minister Israel Katz posted that Hezbollah Chief Naim Qassem is now in the IDF’s crosshairs.
James Genn contributed to this report.