IDF launches new 'targeted' ground operation in southern Lebanon, sending 3rd division to dismantle Hezbollah
Former Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer leads diplomatic track of talks with Beirut gov't
The Israel Defense Forces launched a new ground operation “against key targets” of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Monday, following reports that Israel plans to seize all of southern Lebanon to root out the terror group’s presence there.
The military’s announcement on Monday morning came after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denied reports on Sunday that Israel and Lebanon are close to holding direct talks for the first time.
“If the government of Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces want to change anything, they must take action to stop the attacks carried out by Hezbollah from Lebanese territory toward Israel. So far they have not done anything significant to stop this,” Sa’ar said.
The IDF released few details about the scope or targets of the new campaign, stating only that forces from the 91st Division had begun targeted operations as part of a “forward defense mission” launched two weeks ago. According to the military, the goals are to “remove threats” and “create an additional security layer for residents of northern Israel.”
2/ Israeli Campaign Against Hezbollah and Hezbollah Response: Hezbollah claimed 31 attacks targeting Israeli forces and positions in northern Israel and southern Lebanon, as well as northern Israeli towns, between 3:00 PM ET on March 14 and 3:00 PM ET on March 15. The rate of… pic.twitter.com/HUD8FqZ6tq
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) March 16, 2026
According to the Times of Israel, the 91st Division joined the 146th Reserve Division, which is operating in the western sector of southern Lebanon, and the 36th Division, which is fighting in the Rab al-Thalathine area, opposite the Israeli Galilee “Panhandle.”
Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios over the weekend that Israel is planning to expand its ground operations in Lebanon, seizing the area south of the Litani River and completely dismantling Hezbollah's military infrastructure.
“We are going to do what we did in Gaza,” a senior Israeli official told the outlet.
According to Ynet News, Defense Minister Israel Katz is pushing, in internal discussions, to deepen the ground operation, advocating the capture of territory to push back the threat of anti-tank missile fire on northern Israel. Ynet reported that he has received the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for this approach, which is now apparently being implemented.
IDF soldiers protecting our civilians but make it aesthetic: pic.twitter.com/wmOnUTURPe
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 13, 2026
Army Radio reported that former Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer has been tasked with handling the diplomatic aspects of the Lebanon file, acting as Netanyahu’s special envoy. Dermer reportedly visited Saudi Arabia recently to discuss with senior Saudi officials an initiative for a possible agreement with Beirut.
The U.S. and France are reportedly also involved in the negotiations. In addition, Axios reported that the French government has drafted a proposal to end the war in Lebanon in exchange for the unprecedented step of Beirut recognizing Israel, though France has denied this. According to Axios, the Lebanese government has accepted the plan as a basis for peace talks while Israel and the U.S. are reviewing the proposal.
Ynet appeared to shed some light on the ostensibly contradictory, dual-track policy pursued by Israel, noting that the talks led by Dermer are focused on the “day after” the current fighting rather than providing an alternative to it.
The talks and fighting do not contradict each other, a senior official told the outlet, adding that Israel would not compromise on seizing territory in order to push threats farther away.
⭕️WATCH: Hezbollah terrorists carrying rockets into a weapon storage facility in southern Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/xkzsEoQNB5
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 14, 2026
Israel’s defense establishment and political echelon reportedly do not see the Lebanese government as capable of disarming Hezbollah, even if it wanted to, and believe that only the IDF can achieve this. But after the terror group is dismantled, at least in southern Lebanon, Israel is willing to consider reaching an agreement with the Lebanese government.
Sa’ar’s comments came as he visited the site of an Iranian missile impact in the northern Bedouin town of Zarzir on Sunday, amid ongoing rocket and drone fire from Hezbollah.
Responding to a reporter’s question about talks with Beirut, Sa’ar noted that “ministers affiliated with Hezbollah are still members of the Lebanese government. We support peace and normalization in the future, including with Lebanon. We have no real deep disputes with the State of Lebanon.”
“The problem is Hezbollah,” he emphasized. “Hezbollah operates according to instructions from Tehran, not from Beirut, contrary to the will of Lebanon and its citizens.”
“Since the ceasefire in November 2024, Lebanon has not truly done what it was supposed to do in order to disarm Hezbollah. We are now seeing the results. We also expect serious steps from Lebanon to stop the firing toward Israel. That is what needs to be done now.”
According to the IDF, Hezbollah has fired around 100 rockets at Israel per day since joining the war to support Iran on March 2. Around two-thirds of the launches have targeted Israeli forces in northern Israel and southern Lebanon, while a third have been aimed at civilian towns, the IDF stated.
The military added that the terror group has also launched over 100 drones, most of which have been intercepted by air defenses.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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