Tel Aviv/Beirut, 1 October 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The Israeli military said early on Tuesday it had begun a "limited, localized" operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) had begun "targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence," the military said in a post on social media platform X.

"These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel."

The military was operating to a "methodical plan," which had been trained and prepared for in recent months, the IDF said.

The IDF and the air force were supporting ground forces with "precise strikes" on military targets in the area, it said.

"The IDF is continuing to operate to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes."

Rockets were fired at Israel early on Tuesday, the army said, with around 10 rockets intercepted in the Meron area in northern Israel.

Ahead of the Israeli announcement, Washington late on Monday said it had been informed of planned "limited operations" on the Lebanese border.

Israel said these were "limited operations" focused on "Hezbollah infrastructure near the border," said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, who did not provide further details.

Following almost a year of cross-border skirmishes, Israel launched a massive aerial campaign on targets across Lebanon earlier this week, with the stated aim of pushing back the Lebanese Hezbollah militia to enable the return of tens of thousands of residents evacuated from northern Israel.

As the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia continues, hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands of people displaced in Lebanon.

The international community is urging de-escalation amidst continued Israeli strikes and Hezbollah retaliations, but efforts for a ceasefire have so far been rejected by both sides.

Photo: MIA archive