Kelly Campa, Carolyn Moorman, Alexandra Braverman,

Katherine Wells, Ben Rezaei, and Nicholas Carl

Information Cutoff: 2:00 pm ET

An Israeli military correspondent reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing to expand its ground operations in southern Lebanon. The IDF plans to send more forces, according to the correspondent, which would build upon the two divisions already operating in southern Lebanon. These divisions have primarily operated around Lebanese villages immediately along the border with Israel. The expansion of Israeli operations would be meant to help achieve the stated Israeli war aim of returning displaced civilians safely to their homes in northern Israel. The near daily Lebanese Hezbollah attacks in northern Israel have compelled thousands of civilians to evacuate.

The IDF continued clearing Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon on October 5. The IDF 1st Golani Brigade (36th Division) raided Hezbollah positions and destroyed hundreds of weapons, including anti-tank guided missiles, grenades, and small arms. A Hezbollah-affiliated outlet described the activity as an “intensive combing operation.” Hezbollah claimed that it detonated improvised explosive devices (IED) and fired rocket-propelled grenades targeting Israeli forces around Maroun al Ras and Yaroun on October 4. The IDF 35th Paratroopers Brigade and 89th Commando Brigade (98th division) also engaged Hezbollah militants and raided Hezbollah infrastructure in mountainous and urban areas. These brigades and Israeli engineering elements destroyed underground infrastructure, including tunnels. One of the sites was a Hezbollah compound 300 meters from the Israel-Lebanon border.

Key Takeaways:

Lebanon: The IDF is reportedly planning to expand its ground operations in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces have primarily operated around Lebanese villages immediately along the border with Israel up until this point.

Lebanon: The IDF continued clearing Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah appears to be trying to avoid decisive engagements with the IDF, which indicates that Hezbollah retains effective command-and-control at least at the tactical level and possibly higher.

Lebanon: The IDF is still verifying whether it killed Hashem Safi ed Din—the presumed successor to Hassan Nasrallah—in an airstrike in Beirut. A senior Lebanese source claimed that Safi ed Din has been out of contact since the airstrike.

Iran: Israel is preparing a “serious and significant” response to the recent Iranian missile attack on Israel. The United States has increased its force presence in the Middle East amid this direct conflict between Israel and Iran.

Gaza Strip: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar appears to have no intent of concluding a ceasefire-hostage agreement with Israel. Sinwar reportedly wants a greater war to erupt between Israel and the Axis of Resistance to reduce Israeli military pressure on Hamas.

Click here to read the full update.

ISW–CTP has launched an interactive map of Israeli ground operations to accompany our daily campaign assessments of the Israel–Hamas war. This product complements the daily static maps that ISW-CTP produces with high-fidelity and, where possible, street-level assessments of the war in Israel.

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