After a series of successful targeted killings, Israel’s special forces have launched ground operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, marking a new phase in the conflict.
On September 30, the Israel Defense Forces announced that based on precise intelligence, they had initiated limited, targeted ground attacks against Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure in southern Lebanon in villages near the border posing a direct threat to northern Israeli communities. The troops involved had undergone months of cross-border operation training as part of a planned operation.
Hezbollah has retaliated by claiming new attacks on northern Israel, announcing dozens of individual operations within just one day on the 30th of September.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran that there is no place in the Middle East that Israel cannot reach and believes that the moment for the Iranian people to achieve freedom is closer than expected.
Israeli officials had previously mentioned focusing elite forces on targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, including military bases and command centers, with the goal of pushing Hezbollah militants out of northern Israeli border areas.
Details about the current ground operations remain limited, with the scale and impact yet to be fully observed. Reports indicate that there have been several small-scale attacks in the Lebanon border region on September 30. Social media posts from eyewitnesses show Israeli Defense Forces, including tanks and armored vehicles, rapidly deploying near the Lebanon border. The IDF has declared areas near the Lebanon border such as Metula, Misgav Am, and Kafar Kila as military exclusion zones.
Simultaneously, the Lebanese military is withdrawing from the border areas near Israel. However, a spokesman for the Lebanese army has neither confirmed nor denied these reports. It is notable that the Lebanese army under central government control has not participated in Hezbollah’s armed military actions against Israel. Hezbollah has been the group conducting attacks against Israel for the past year. Despite their statement to continue fighting Israel, the organization’s combat capability has significantly declined in recent weeks.
Israel’s targeted killings primarily focused on Hamas and Hezbollah leadership, leading to what is considered a “decapitation war.” This is exemplified by the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31 and the subsequent destruction of dozens of Hezbollah members in Israeli airstrikes, including high-ranking officials such as Hassan Nasrallah in a Beirut airstrike on September 27. The decapitation strategy targeting enemy leadership is evolving into comprehensive ground operations against Hezbollah militants.
Prior to the airstrike targeting Nasrallah on the 27th, Israel issued evacuation orders to residents near Hezbollah facilities. Hezbollah and Hamas often use human shields to avoid Israeli attacks, placing their activities and military facilities in civilian areas to hinder Israeli operations and potentially mislead international opinion regarding civilian casualties. Issuing warnings before attacks can be seen as Israel’s effort to minimize harm to civilians. Reports suggest that residents of Dahieh began to evacuate after receiving warnings from the IDF.
Footage from social media shows that on September 27, airstrikes destroyed four buildings, with reports of six buildings being destroyed. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that the targeted Hezbollah headquarters were located beneath residential buildings in Beirut’s Dahieh, a civilian area.
Photos released by the Israeli Ministry of Defense show Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accompanied by Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Air Force Commander Tomer Bar, observing the entire attack process from the underground command center of the Israeli Air Force. Early reports indicate the use of penetrating bunker-busting bombs or missiles in some airstrikes. Images from social media show significant black smoke rising from the targeted locations, indicating potential underground targets.
US Senate Armed Services Committee Air and Land Subcommittee Chairman Mark Kelly revealed in a media interview that Israel employed 2,000-pound Mark 84 series bombs, specifically GBU-31, in the operation to kill Nasrallah. Kelly noted the increasing use of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) in military operations, aiming to target and eliminate leadership figures like Nasrallah.
The Joint Direct Attack Munition GBU-31 is a precision-guided, all-weather bomb designed to convert unguided conventional bombs into guided munitions by adding tail kits with technologies like inertial navigation systems and GPS control units. These bombs can carry different types of warheads ranging from 500 to 2000 pounds to strike fixed and moving ground targets, as well as targets hidden in underground bunkers. Once deployed from aircraft, they automatically guide to designated target areas with precision within 5 meters or less. The bomb earned the nickname “Hammer” due to its effectiveness. The development of JDAMs addressed the limitations of conventional air-to-ground weapons during desert storm operations, especially in adverse weather conditions, leading to the creation of precision bombs adaptable to harsh weather.
The integration of JDAMs and B-2 bombers in operations against Middle East terrorist organizations first occurred in US allied actions. During Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001, B-2s from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri conducted continuous round-trip flights over 30 hours to retaliate against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Reports indicated dropping over 600 JDAMs during the operations, showcasing the combination of stealth aircraft and precision-guided weapons that revolutionized aerial warfare.
Analysis of videos suggests that F-15I fighters carrying JDAM bombs with BLU-109 models targeted Nasrallah. The BLU-109 is designed to penetrate and explode within hardened structures like concrete bunkers, aligning with IDF descriptions and indicating credibility.
JDAMs have been in use since 1999, making them a 25-year-old weapon technology. The success of Israel’s targeted killings lies not just in advanced weapons systems but also in intelligence operations that remain undisclosed to the public. For instance, detailed intelligence pinpointing Nasrallah’s presence in a residential building in Beirut’s Dahieh area was critical in the killing chain, underscoring the significant and perilous intelligence work conducted by Israeli agents. Nasrallah and his entourage were high-value, time-sensitive targets, and Israel’s arsenal was readily equipped to deal with such targets.
Israel’s military and intelligence agencies have demonstrated exceptional capabilities in combat with Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi militants, and Iran, showing numerous successful examples. The battle is almost routine for Israel, with combat capability and intelligence efficiency influenced not only by training and quality but also by the existential status of the Israeli nation. The crisis mentality encourages Israeli leadership to make bold decisions, while the combat will of Israeli soldiers remains strong.
On September 30, Hezbollah’s Deputy Leader Naim Kassem declared in a televised address that Hezbollah aims to defeat Israel and is prepared to combat the Israeli military if a ground invasion occurs. History suggests that Hezbollah’s commitments often lack credibility.
Nearly simultaneously, the Pentagon announced measures to further strengthen US military defense posture in the Middle East to deter aggression and mitigate the risk of broader regional conflicts.
Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder stated on September 29 that the US is determined to prevent Iran and its regional proxies from escalating conflicts stemming from the current situation.
The Pentagon’s actions include ordering the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to remain in the US Central Command’s operational area, bolstering air defense capabilities. Reinforcements in the region consist of F-16, F-15E, and F-22 fighters, A-10 attack aircraft, and associated personnel.