The Israeli military says it has begun a "limited, localized" operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. It said it was carrying out "targeted ground raids" in villages close to the Israeli border. The targets, it said, pose an "immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel." The Israeli military launched small ground raids against Hezbollah and sealed off communities along its northern border on Monday as Israeli artillery pounded southern Lebanon and signals grew that more forces could soon be sent across the border to fight the Iran-backed militants. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel informed the U.S. about the raids, which he said were described as "limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border."

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Persons: Matthew Miller, Israel Organizations: State Department Locations: Lebanese, Ain El Delb, Lebanon, Israel, Iran