By Laila Bassam BEIRUT, March 5 (Reuters) - Hezbollah has deployed elite fighters to confront Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, sending them back into the border region from which they withdrew after a war in 2024,

For decades, Iran has protected itself with a network of well-funded, heavily armed and deeply radicalized militant groups. But just when they are needed most, many of the main players are staying on the sidelines,

The country is waiting to see if the government seizes on this moment to disarm the Iranian-backed armed group and how the militants will respond.

About 100 rockets and drones were launched from Lebanon toward Israel over the course of Saturday, while Israeli tanks advanced toward a southern Lebanese border town, Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV channel reported,

Israel has sent troops into southern Lebanon and told residents of more than 80 villages to evacuate as the Iran-backed militant Hezbollah group said it was ready for an “open war” with Israel in the wake of the U.

After meeting with the chief of staff of the French military in ⁠Beirut, Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun asked Macron to intervene to "prevent ⁠the targeting of the southern suburbs following threats by the Israeli army against its residents," the Lebanese presidency said in a separate statement.

Military again urges many Lebanese civilians to evacuate; rockets and drones continue to strike north; Katz warns Lebanon will pay 'full price' if Hezbollah keeps up attacks The post 2 soldiers hurt in Hezbollah missile attack;

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned the Lebanese government of "disastrous consequences" should it fail to enforcing the ceasefire agreement and disarming Hezbollah. The IDF has begun a new wave of strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in ...