The Israeli army's Northern Command indicated on Thursday that a large-scale ground invasion in Lebanon is unlikely in the near term, pending a calmer situation with Iran.

In updates on Operation Roaring Lion, the expansive campaign launched by the Israeli army against Hezbollah and Iranian‑linked targets, senior commanders in the Northern Command indicated that while Israel has strengthened its posture along the Lebanese border, a deep ground incursion remains unlikely in the short term unless Tehran’s actions change significantly.

The military confirmed nearly 200 strikes in its ongoing campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon since the launch of hostilities.

The military said Hezbollah has embedded its terrorist infrastructure within civilian areas in the heart of Beirut and urged residents to evacuate for their safety. According to the Israeli army, around 70 targets have been hit in the Beirut area, including the IRGC Air Force headquarters, weapons storage facilities, and rocket launchers.

The strikes have also resulted in the deaths of several senior militants, including Adham Adnan al-Othman, commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Lebanon; Zaid Ali Juma, Hezbollah’s artillery commander in southern Lebanon; and five senior commanders in the Lebanon Corps and Palestine Corps of the IRGC’s Quds Force.

In addition to air operations, the Israeli army confirmed that its Mountains Brigade has been operating on the ground in the Mount Dov area along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Last week, the military announced a slight expansion of its security zone in southern Lebanon, adding to five positions it has maintained since the November 2024 ceasefire.