Israel launches ground assault in southern Lebanon

Israel launches ground assault in southern Lebanon Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/03/2026 - 08:29 Israeli army says it deployed troops 'deeper into southern Lebanon', beyond five positions it has occupied since the 2024 ceasefire Israeli soldiers arrange their equipment on top of a tank in the Upper Galilee near the Lebanon border on 2 March 2026 (AFP/Jalaa Marey) Off Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced the authorisation of a ground assault in southern Lebanon . In a statement on Tuesday, Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had authorised the army to “advance and hold additional dominant terrain in Lebanon”. He said the aim was to “prevent the possibility of direct fire on Israeli communities”.