Israel Expands Lebanon Ground Offensive as Trump Declines to Endorse Invasion

Israel expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, announcing that Division 36 has joined the maneuver alongside Division 91 as fighting with Hezbollah intensifies along the northern border.

The move marks a significant expansion of Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah and comes as international reactions grow increasingly divided, with European governments urging restraint while Trump has avoided taking a clear position on a broader Israeli offensive.

According to the IDF, soldiers from the Commando Brigade, the Golani Brigade and the 7th Armored Brigade are operating in several areas in southern Lebanon as part of the expanded maneuver. Israeli forces are now working along what the military described as the “first and second lines of villages” facing Israel’s Galilee panhandle.

The army also disclosed details of one of the first battles during the operation. On the night Israeli troops entered the area, a company commander led forces in a close-range fight inside one of the villages, killing a Hezbollah cell. RPG launchers and additional weapons were found on the militants’ bodies, according to the military. Hezbollah has continued to launch rockets and drones toward northern Israel in recent days, with dozens of projectiles fired over the past 24 hours toward border communities, military posts and open areas.

During a visit Monday to Northern Command, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir linked the Lebanon fighting to the broader war against Iran and its regional network of proxies. “Iran is the main arena. Weakening the regime and its capabilities will weaken the entire radical axis, including Hezbollah,” Zamir said.

He added that Israeli forces had launched “a targeted ground operation in southern Lebanon in order to push the threat away from the border and ensure long-term security for northern residents.” According to the IDF, more than 400 Hezbollah militants have been killed so far during the northern campaign.

The expansion of Israeli ground activity has drawn warnings from several Western governments. In a joint statement Monday, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom cautioned that a large Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon could have severe consequences. “A significant Israeli ground offensive would have devastating humanitarian consequences and could lead to a protracted conflict,” the countries said. “It must be averted.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also voiced concern in a public statement, writing that he was “gravely concerned by the escalating violence in Lebanon” and calling for Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel to stop.

France has also been working to open a diplomatic track aimed at preventing a prolonged war in Lebanon. According to reports cited by several outlets, Paris has proposed a framework for Israel–Lebanon talks with U.S. and French support intended to stabilize the border. French President Emmanuel Macron said Hezbollah’s attacks had triggered Israel’s response but added that Israel should end its operation in Lebanon “as quickly as possible.”

While European leaders have pushed publicly for de-escalation, the United States has taken a more ambiguous stance. Asked by a reporter whether the United States supports a potential Israeli invasion of Lebanon, President Donald Trump did not directly answer the question. Instead, he said: “Hezbollah is a big problem, and they're rapidly being eliminated.”

The remarks appeared to signal support for Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah while avoiding a formal endorsement of a broader ground offensive or commitments that could draw the United States more deeply into the Lebanon front. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed U.S. diplomats yesterday to push allies worldwide to designate Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organizations.

At the same time, Trump has pressed allies to contribute more to protecting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, but has not publicly called on them to help address the fighting in Lebanon, either militarily or diplomatically.

On the ground, however,the fighting appears set to continue. Israeli officials say Hezbollah is preparing a prolonged defense in southern Lebanon and has intensified rocket fire toward northern Israel, while the IDF has signaled that its operations along the border are likely to deepen in the coming days.