Elite Israel forces conduct scouting missions in Lebanon ahead of potential invasion

Elite Israeli forces have penetrated Lebanon in an attempt to scout areas and gain intelligence for a potential invasion of the country, as Tel Aviv’s conflict with Hezbollah continues to escalate.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Israeli Special Forces have begun carrying out “small, targeted raids into southern Lebanon”, in a direct attempt to gather intelligence and probe the region ahead of a “broader ground incursion” that could take place in the coming months.

The British newspaper, The Telegraph, also quoted an Israeli official as saying that the Special Forces are “targeting key sites which have been built across the border zone”.

Their operations reportedly include scouting out Hezbollah’s reported network of tunnels along the border region, conducting sabotage missions and targeting the group’s infrastructure such as weapons sites and command centres.

The secretive operations come only days after Israel’s killing of Hezbollah’s late long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah, causing the most drastic escalation in the brewing conflict between Israel and the group, so far.

Hezbollah is reportedly gearing up for a full-scale war with Israeli forces, with its deputy leader, Naim Qassem, having stated in a televised address today that the group is ready for such a war, and that operations will continue while its forces are braced for ‘patience’ and the possibility of a long conflict.

The threats to everyone in the Middle East are very real, Israel included