World

Israel launches massive campaign in Lebanon

Published: 08:03 AM,Mar 03,2026 | EDITED : 12:03 PM,Mar 03,2026

 

Israeli ​troops were carrying out incursions along ⁠some ⁠parts of the Lebanese ‌border, ​a Lebanese ⁠official ​told Reuters on ‌Tuesday.
Witnesses ​said the Lebanese army had ‌pulled ​out of ​at ‌least seven forward ⁠operating ​positions along ⁠the border.

The Israeli military said it had deployed troops to several locations in southern Lebanon, in what it described as a 'forward defence' measure along the border.
Israel's military earlier said it had launched new strikes on Hezbollah targets, including 'command centres and weapons storage facilities' in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, after warning it would press ahead with its campaign against the Iran-backed group.
Hezbollah said it had targeted three Israeli military bases in response to the assaults on its strongholds, calling its rocket and drone attacks a 'defensive act' after more than a year of Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire.
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday he told the military to take control of more positions in Lebanon in response.  

  The US Embassy in Lebanon renewed its call for citizens to leave Lebanon immediately.
The education ministry announced the closure of schools, universities and educational institutions on Tuesday due to 'security conditions'.
The authorities in Beirut have repeatedly said they do not wish to involve their country in the outbreak of conflict in the region, which started after a massive US-Israeli attack on Iran.

Beirut had decided last August to gradually disarm Hezbollah, following a year-long war fought with Israel that ended in the November 2024 ceasefire.
But the agreement did not stop Israel from continuing to strike targets it said were linked to Hezbollah, which it accused of trying to rearm.
The truce is monitored by a committee bringing together Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and UN peacekeepers.
Salam on Monday called on the countries guaranteeing the ceasefire -- the United States and France -- to 'obtain a clear and final commitment from the Israeli side to cease all attacks on the entirety of Lebanese territory'.
He announced the government's 'full readiness to resume negotiations' with Israel, 'with civilian participation and under international auspices'.