Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Mar 16: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Monday the start of limited, targeted ground operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the move, describing it as an effort “to neutralize threats and safeguard northern residents.” Security sources and eyewitnesses reported intense clashes along multiple border points, with Israeli troops advancing toward the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated boundary, and establishing positions in towns and strategic locations.
The escalation follows the broader Middle East conflict that began on February 28 with a US-Israeli air campaign against Iran.
Hezbollah, a key Iranian ally controlling much of southern Lebanon, renewed attacks on March 2, two days after the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since then, rocket and drone exchanges have intensified, leading to some of the fiercest border clashes since the 2024 ceasefire, which had previously halted a year-long war that displaced hundreds of thousands and caused extensive infrastructure damage.
In parallel, the IDF reported that it destroyed an Airbus A340 aircraft at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport used by Iran’s top leadership. The strike, Israel claims, will disrupt coordination between Tehran and its regional allies, slow Iran’s military buildup, and impede the restoration of damaged capabilities. The plane had previously transported senior officials, including Masoud Pezeshkian and, in earlier years, Supreme Leader Khamenei. Iranian authorities have not confirmed the strike.
Mehrabad Airport, one of Tehran’s oldest aviation hubs, primarily handles domestic flights and houses military units, including elements of the Iranian Air Force.
Additionally, the IDF stated that it carried out strikes on infrastructure in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, as the US-Israeli campaign against Iran enters its 17th day, signaling a widening regional conflict.
The ongoing operations in southern Lebanon and the strikes inside Iran reflect a significant escalation, with both sides fortifying positions and engaging in fierce exchanges across multiple fronts, raising concerns over further regional instability.