Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon is imminent, officials say

Israel is preparing for an imminent ground invasion of southern Lebanon, which will focus on villages close to the border, two Israeli officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: Just days after killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Israel is set to launch a dangerous new phase of its escalating conflict with the militant group by undertaking its first ground invasion of Lebanon since 2006.

• The Biden administration has been urging Israel not to invade Lebanon, and has privately warned that such an operation will increase support for Hezbollah among ordinary Lebanese people, U.S. officials say.
• "I'm comfortable with [Israel] stopping," President Biden said on Monday. "We should have a ceasefire now."

Zoom in: Israeli officials say the objective is to "clean up" military positions and infrastructure Hezbollah had established close to the border.

• Only once Hezbollah's presence near the border is eliminated will the tens of thousands of Israeli citizens who were displaced during cross-border strikes after Oct. 7 be able to return to their homes, the officials say.
• State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that in conversations about a possible invasion in recent days, Israeli officials told U.S. counterparts these would be "limited operations" focused on the border area. Miller didn't express opposition to a possible limited ground operation and said while the U.S. still supports a ceasefire, "military pressure can at times enable diplomacy."
• Over 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah over the past two weeks.

Driving the news: Over the last three weeks, the Israel Defense Forces have moved many infantry and tank units from Gaza to the northern border and mobilized several reserve brigades.

• Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant alluded to the possibility of an imminent ground invasion in a meeting with soldiers in a tank unit on the border on Monday.
• "The elimination of Nasrallah is an important step, but it is not the final one. In order to ensure the return of Israel's northern communities, we will employ all of our capabilities, and this includes you," Gallant said.
• In a meeting with the heads of municipalities which are located on the northern border, Gallant said "the next phase in the war against Hezbollah will begin soon and it will be a significant factor in changing the security situation and will allow us to return the residents to their homes."
• The Israeli security cabinet convened on Monday to discuss the ground invasion, Israeli officials said.