The ground operation that the Israeli military launched overnight into southern Lebanon does not amount to an invasion or incursion, an Israeli security official said, describing it instead as “localized raids” that are “very limited in scope and in the area of operation.”
The official said there were so far “no clashes” on the ground between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah.
Speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity Tuesday morning, the official refused to comment on whether Israeli tanks have entered Lebanon and would not elaborate on how deep into Lebanese territory Israeli troops have advanced, saying they were focused on the border areas.
CNN cannot independently verify the extent of Israel’s operation in Lebanon or the types of forces on the ground there.
The IDF has been building up its presence along Israel’s northern border for weeks, redeploying some units that had previously fought in Gaza to Israel’s northern border area.
The security official said the forces that have entered are “not numbers of a large ground invasion.”
The official also pushed back against suggestions that Israel has begun an invasion of Lebanon, criticizing media reports that called the operation “an incursion” that is “going to Beirut.”
