**Israeli Forces Intensify Operations in Southern Lebanon Amid Rising Regional Tensions**

Israeli commandos executed several small ground raids in southern Lebanon on Monday, signaling potential escalation in the region. According to a senior U.S. official who spoke to NPR on the condition of anonymity, Israel is strategizing for a limited ground offensive in the near future. Alongside these raids, Israeli forces carried out brief intelligence-gathering missions in the same area this week. An official in the Middle East mentioned that "everything is on the table" regarding the possibility of a more extensive ground incursion.

In response to the escalating conflict, the Lebanese army has pulled back from certain border checkpoints with Israel amid heavy artillery shelling and reports of an Israeli incursion. A Lebanese army official described this as a "redeployment" from locations that could be particularly vulnerable to an Israeli advance. These developments arise amidst heightened clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon. The hostilities, which began after the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, have resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities within Lebanon, forcing numerous civilians to evacuate, as per Lebanon's Health Ministry.

Israel has stated that its strikes aim to neutralize Hezbollah threats, killing leader Hassan Nasrallah and several top-tier officials, while also inflicting civilian casualties. The Israeli government maintains that its operations will persist until northern Israel's inhabitants can safely return to their homes near the Lebanese border.

However, U.S. officials believe that Israel may not be ready for a major ground offensive in Lebanon, citing the overstretched nature of its troops due to extended operations in Gaza over the past year. Tamir Hayman, former head of Israel's military intelligence directorate, stressed in a radio interview that Israel needs to decide soon whether it plans to launch a ground invasion and whether its objective is a temporary presence to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure or a prolonged occupation aimed at establishing a security buffer zone.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has announced plans to deploy "a few thousand" additional troops to the Middle East, focusing on air defense capabilities to safeguard U.S. forces in the region amid concerns of potential Iranian retaliation.

The tension is further compounded by the conflict between Israel and the Iran-supported Houthis in Yemen. Following a ballistic missile launch by the Houthis targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aircraft on Saturday, Israel responded with a significant airstrike operation in Yemen, targeting power plants and a seaport used by the Houthis. Israeli security analysts interpret this long-range bombing as a subtle warning to Iran of Israel's reach.

The situation remains fluid, with developments continuing to unfold.