Israeli special forces have been conducting limited operations inside Lebanon in recent months, gathering intelligence and probing Hezbollah’s positions ahead of a potential ground invasion, an Israeli official confirmed told NBC News. 

Small-scale missions had been launched into southern Lebanon, designed to assess the militant group’s capabilities, the official added, noting, however, that these operations have been ongoing for months and are not an immediate indication of a ground offensive.

Nonetheless, the possibility of a full-scale invasion remains as Israel has deployed thousands of troops to the northern border in preparation for a potential escalation with Hezbollah.

The Israeli military further intensified its readiness over the weekend by mobilizing additional reserve soldiers, activating three battalions to reinforce defenses across the country. This move follows the earlier deployment of two brigades to northern Israel, where they are training for possible ground combat. 

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested that his country is preparing for a larger operation, pointing to the recent killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as a significant, but not conclusive, development.

"The elimination of Nasrallah is a very important step, but it is not everything. We will use all the capabilities we have," Gallant told soldiers from the 188th Armored Brigade and Golani Infantry Brigade stationed in northern Israel.