Israeli troops have entered Lebanon. The much-feared ground operation has begun .

The announcement came from the US State Department, which specified that Tel Aviv is currently carrying out " limited ground operations in Lebanon ."

Beirut authorities said the army had redeployed troops to the south of the country to deal with the ground offensive.

The Lebanese army was seen withdrawing from several positions on the southern border with Israel , Reuters reported on its website, citing local residents and a security source. A Lebanese army spokesman did not confirm or deny the reports, while another security source said Lebanese troops were at least five kilometers north of the border after the withdrawal.

In the south of Lebanon, where the contingent of the UN mission UNIFIL is also located, led by over a thousand soldiers of the Sassari Brigade, tank and artillery fire can be heard .

The situation risks worsening and our soldiers are also at risk, who are currently on “alert 2”, meaning that movements outside the base are limited to a minimum . From what we understand, the soldiers are on alert inside the base but it would not have been necessary at the moment to enter the bunkers.

As Minister Crosetto clarified yesterday, the UN contingent soldiers " are not the direct target of the attacks, even if the increase in the level and intensity of the clashes makes accidental involvement possible ". An evacuation plan is ready if the situation were to worsen.

(Unioneonline/L)

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