By Smartencyclopedia News with Agencies

The Israeli military has deployed a fourth division into southern Lebanon, marking an expansion of its ground operations against Hezbollah amidst escalating tensions in the region. Israel’s reservist 146th division was deployed overnight on Tuesday as airstrikes continued to rain down across southern and eastern Lebanon. This move comes after the mobilization of a third division earlier in the week, bringing the total number of Israeli troops on the ground to approximately 15,000.

Israel launched Operation Northern Arrows last week, which initially targeted Hezbollah’s infrastructure along the contested Blue Line, the de facto border between Israel and Lebanon. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) initially characterized the offensive as a series of “limited, localized, and targeted raids,” but the rapid deployment of multiple divisions and intensified bombardments suggest a broader campaign could be underway. Evacuation orders have been issued for Lebanese villages located within a 20-mile radius of the blue line, further indicating the potential for a larger offensive.

Hezbollah’s Defiant Response

In a defiant address, Hezbollah’s acting secretary general, Naim Qassem, claimed that despite two weeks of heavy Israeli airstrikes—including the killing of the group’s longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah—Hezbollah’s military capabilities remained intact. Qassem noted that Hezbollah had replaced all its senior commanders and asserted that the group’s military strength, particularly its rocket and drone capabilities, was still functional.

“You see that our daily accomplishments are great,” Qassem said. “Hundreds of rockets and dozens of drones have targeted [Israeli] settlements and cities…our capabilities are fine.” Despite the ongoing Israeli ground operations, Qassem said that Israeli forces had made no significant advances in the past week of fighting.

Rising Casualties and Humanitarian Crisis

As the fighting intensifies, casualties continue to mount. Lebanese officials report that at least 1,400 Lebanese citizens, including civilians, medical personnel, and Hezbollah fighters, have been killed since hostilities escalated three weeks ago. Nearly 1.2 million people—roughly a quarter of Lebanon’s population—have been displaced as a result of the conflict. Israel’s stated objective in its offensive is to eliminate Hezbollah’s threat along the northern border, allowing displaced Israelis to return home after over a year of cross-border hostilities.

The conflict was triggered last October when Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel in solidarity with Palestinian militants following Hamas’s deadly assault on Israel. The fighting in Lebanon comes as Israel also wages a war on Hamas in Gaza, where airstrikes killed 17 people in a refugee camp on Tuesday.

Hezbollah and the Iranian Factor

The conflict has taken on an even greater international dimension following a missile attack from Iran last week, reportedly in support of Hezbollah. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told CNN, “Everything is on the table. Israel can hit targets near and far, and we have proven it.”

Israel is reportedly consulting with its key ally, the United States, on how to retaliate against Iran while avoiding further escalation. According to U.S. officials, Israel may prioritize strikes on Iranian military bases and intelligence sites before targeting nuclear facilities. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, warned against any further Israeli military action, raising the specter of a wider regional war.

Gaza Conflict Continues

Meanwhile, fighting in Gaza remains fierce. On the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, the group’s armed wing vowed to continue its fight in what it described as a “long war of attrition.” Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate Gaza, with Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida promising that the conflict will remain “painful and costly” for Israel.

As the situation in Lebanon and Gaza deteriorates, the region faces an increasingly volatile and dangerous landscape, with the potential for a broader conflict involving multiple regional powers.