The Israeli military said on Monday that its 91st Brigade has begun ground operations in southern Lebanon aimed at expanding what it described as a “forward defence zone” along the border.

In a post on X, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the operation had been launched “in recent days” and was intended to destroy infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah, remove security threats and create an additional protection layer for Israeli communities near the frontier.

The announcement comes amid escalating cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah fighters based in Lebanon.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, Israeli attacks in Lebanon since February 28 have killed at least 850 people, including 66 women, 107 children and 32 health workers.

Another 2,105 people have been wounded, while more than 800,000 residents have been displaced by the fighting.

Separately, Lebanon Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants condemned what it described as a shooting targeting peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

In a statement posted on X, the ministry said the incidents occurred during routine UNIFIL patrols near their bases in the southern towns of Yater, Deir Kifa and Qlaouieh.

Lebanon described the shooting as a “serious and unacceptable” violation of international law and of resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council.