The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Lebanon from September 30 to October 1. The Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers quickly retreated in the face of the oncoming troops. The Israel Defense Forces first declared the border area a military restricted area and deployed hundreds of tanks and hundreds of other armored vehicles to attack on both sides of the border. They then used tanks and artillery to violently bombard Al Wazani and Al Khiam. Israeli forces were later confirmed to have begun reconnaissance operations and deployed sappers to pave the way forward, as well as deploying Apache attack helicopters to provide further fire support. The bombing was later confirmed to have been supported by the use of white phosphorus bombs, which were initially identified as targeting Kfar Shuba and Halta. Wider advances were subsequently launched as part of the invasion effort. title=「Hezbollah Paramilitary Forces」
Footage of the full-scale invasion shows special forces entering Lebanese territory, and sources confirmed that Israeli armored forces penetrated the Lemesh area. The invasion is widely hailed in Israel as the beginning of the Third Lebanon War, following a failed 2006 invasion in which Israeli forces were repulsed by Hezbollah paramilitary forces. The fighting has intensified, with Israeli bombing campaigns targeting the paramilitary group's leadership. A Bunker Attack Hezbollah leader General Secretary Hassan Nasrallah succeeded in eliminating most of the leadership on September 26, while also killing hundreds of civilians in the capital Beirut. Hezbollah's southern front commander Ali Karaki had previously been targeted by air strikes during a failed “air strike” operation. >Assassination attempt on the night of September 23 Nasrallah was subsequently killed in his bunker. >Strikes>Rocket attacksKey targets across Israel, including Ramat David Air Base, which hosts three forward squadrons of F-16 fighter jets, and Megiddo Military Airfield, which serves as a second staging base for F-16 operations. Also under attack were Amos Base, the main base for transportation and logistics support in northern Israel, the explosives factory in Zikron, and the Northern Command's main warehouse at Nimra Base, among other important targets. Israel has imposed an information blackout, preventing reports of damage to its bases and other facilities. target=”_blank”>DestroyedPart of the Israeli David's Sling long-range air defense system.