Israel says its forces are conducting targeted ground raids in Lebanon escalating its campaign against Hezbollah raising fears of a wider regional conflict Israel says ground operation started shortly before midnight local time on Monday there were also quote targeted air strikes in the Lebanese Capital Beirut Lebanese media reported heavy shelling in several sites along the border while Hezbollah fired Rockets back at Israel Israel insists its ground operations would be limited amid ongoing pressure from the US UK and Arab States for deescalation it follows a series of intense Israeli air strikes against the militant group seeking to eliminate its leadership and to degrade its weapon stockpile hb’s long-standing leader Hassan Nella was killed in a strike in Beirut on Friday Israel is also believed to be responsible for attacks on pagers and walki talkis used by the group but has made no official comment prime minister Benjamin netanyahu’s government has made the return of civilians displaced by Hezbollah strikes over the past year one of its War aims the the latest round of fighting is likely to worsen the economic and humanitarian situation inside Lebanon itself Lebanese Health officials say hundreds of civilians including at least 50 children have been killed in Israeli strikes the country’s prime minister says 1 million people have likely been displaced with many of them trying to flee to Syria