The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have expanded their ground operations in southern Lebanon with the deployment of the 36th Armored Division, joining forces with the 91st Division in a coordinated effort to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and strengthen the security perimeter protecting northern Israel. The operation, confirmed by official IDF statements on March 16, 2026, represents a significant escalation in Israel’s campaign to eliminate rocket threats and militant positions along the border.

Armored convoys and artillery units have been observed maneuvering through rugged terrain in southern Lebanon, as shown in accompanying operational footage. The images depict coordinated military movements with Hebrew subtitles referencing ongoing mission objectives and tactical communication between units. These deployments are part of a broader strategy designed to establish a forward defensive zone while systematically targeting Hezbollah launch sites, weapons depots, and underground facilities used to store missiles and rockets.

The ground push follows a series of pre-raid airstrikes that reportedly neutralized several concealed weapons caches, including underground sites containing cruise missiles and large rocket stockpiles. Israeli military planners have increasingly focused on locating and destroying such facilities before they can be used in coordinated attacks against Israeli communities near the northern border.

As operations continue, Israeli forces remain focused on neutralizing Hezbollah’s remaining infrastructure and ensuring long-term security for northern Israeli communities. The combined deployment of the 36th and 91st Divisions highlights the scale of the operation and signals Israel’s readiness to sustain ground pressure until the threat posed by Hezbollah’s rocket and missile network is substantially reduced.