The Israeli military announced on Tuesday that a new division of soldiers, the 146th, was operating in southern Lebanon, signaling that it could be ramping up the ground invasion of its neighbor.
Since beginning the invasion on Sept. 30 to target the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the military has announced the involvement of three other divisions, but released few details about the number of troops deployed in Lebanon and their activities there.
Here’s what we know about the Israeli forces engaged in the ground operation.
How many Israeli troops are in Lebanon?
The Israeli military has said that its 36th, 98th, 91st, and 146th divisions have sent troops across the border into Lebanon, though it has not publicly disclosed how many soldiers are involved in the invasion or how many each division has contributed.
A complete division in Israel, as in the United States, usually comprises 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers, with roughly a third being combat troops and the remainder playing supporting roles, including in logistics and intelligence.
The Israeli military has declined to specify how many soldiers from the Israeli divisions have entered Lebanon since the invasion began, arguing that they do not want to publicize information that could benefit Hezbollah. Analysts estimate that they number in thousands.
Gershon HaCohen, a retired Israeli major general who served as reservist in Israel’s northern command in the last year, said that the number of Israeli troops fighting in Lebanon was in the lower range of that in 2006, during the last full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Prior reports in The Times put that figure at an estimated 10,000 to 30,000, depending on the phase of the 34-day war.
General HaCohen said that Israel’s announcement of the deployment of the additional division did not mean that Israel was significantly expanding its campaign into southern Lebanon. Instead, he suggested that the troops would simply be operating in new areas along the border.
Where are Israeli soldiers fighting in Lebanon?
Israeli soldiers have entered several Lebanese villages directly across Israel’s northern border. Many residents of such villages have evacuated over the past year of cross-border strikes between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli forces have been operating in and around the villages of Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras, Odaisseh and nearby Kfar Kila, according to Israeli security officials. During visits to the Israeli side of the border over the past week, a New York Times reporter heard booms and what sounded like clashes between soldiers and Hezbollah militants a few miles away in Lebanon.
Videos from Yaroun that were posted to social media and verified by The Times show many demolished and damaged homes, and soldiers walking near a launch site for anti-tank missiles directed toward Israel.
Which divisions also served in Gaza?
Two of the divisions that have been deployed in Lebanon — the 36th and 98th — also took part in Israel’s ground invasion of the Gaza Strip that began in the weeks following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on Israel last year.
The 36th division was involved in Israel’s raids on northern Gaza, while the 98th led Israel’s invasion of the southern city of Khan Younis.
What is Israel’s strategy in Lebanon?
Israeli military officials have repeatedly described the invasion as “limited, localized and targeted raids” against Hezbollah, suggesting the operation wouldn’t extend deep into Lebanon.
But it has called for the evacuation of dozens of villages in southern Lebanon and told residents to relocate north of the Awali River, which is more than 15 miles from the Israeli border at its nearest point.
“The goal is not to eliminate Hezbollah, at least not at this stage, but to destroy their capabilities along the border,” General HaCohen said.
The post What We Know About the Israeli Forces Fighting in Lebanon appeared first on New York Times.
