Israel prepares for ground offensive in Lebanon – LIVE UPDATES

West Jerusalem informed the US of a “limited incursion” in advance

Ground troops of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing to cross the border into southern Lebanon, in what anonymous US officials described as “a limited ground incursion” aimed against Hezbollah.

The imminent invasion comes after more than a week of air and missile strikes that killed over 1,000 people in Lebanon. Among the dead were several senior Hezbollah officials, including the group’s long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Unconfirmed reports quoted by several news agencies have indicated that Lebanese troops retreated approximately 5km away from the Israeli border late on Monday, in anticipation of the attack.