FOOTAGE has emerged showing Israeli troops in Lebanon for the first time since invading the terror-hotbed.
It shows commandos moving in for a daring night-time raid on a threatening Hezbollah post.
Israel poured tanks and soldiers over its northern border into Lebanon on Monday for its much-anticipated showdown with Hezbollah.
As Israeli troops confront their entrenched, fanatical enemy, the first footage of raids has been shared.
The focus of the operation is clearing out Hezbollah terror sites to halt rocket attacks which have driven 60,000 from homes in Northern Israel in the last 11 months, Israeli sources said.
Footage from Israel’s 98th Division – which is leading the onslaught – shows soldiers moving under the cloak of the night sky to eliminate Hezbollah weaponry.
The battle-hardened division was moved north from fighting Hezbollah allies Hamas in Gaza ahead of the invasion.
The force – believed to number at least 25,000 – includes crack paratroopers, commandos and engineers and are being guided by special forces teams who identify targets.
Meanwhile, daytime clips show troops armed with guns and specialist dogs searching sites in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli Defence Forces said: “Forces from the Commando Brigade, including soldiers from the Egoz Unit, located and destroyed a Hezbollah attack infrastructure, which included a rocket launcher, explosive stockpiles, and additional military equipment.
“The troops, in cooperation with the Israeli Air Force eliminated terrorists and dismantled terrorist infrastructure through precision-guided munitions and close-range engagements.
“So far, over 150 terror infrastructures have been destroyed in airstrikes, including Hezbollah headquarters, weapons storage facilities, and rocket launchers.”
Troops and tanks stormed across the border hours after Israel revealed special forces had already attacked defence tunnels inside the country.
Today, fierce battles have erupted in southern Lebanon in an ominous sign a full-scale invasion is underway.
And several Israeli troops are understood to have been killed after one of its commando units was ambushed near Hezbollah tunnels, reports The Times.
In a statement just before midnight Monday UK time, the IDF said its boots on the ground were backed by artillery and the air force.
It comes as…
It dubbed the gambit against Iran’s proxy army, which has rained missiles on Israeli homes for nearly a year, Operation Northern Arrows.
A no-go zone has been drawn up for civilians in southern Lebanon, with 26 towns urged to evacuate.
Spokesman Avichay Adraee said: “Intense fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon.
“For your personal safety, we ask you not to travel by vehicles from the north to the south of the Litani River.”
Tensions were already high after Israel assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week.
But they hit boiling point last night when Iran, which backs Hezbollah, unleashed a barrage of 181 missiles into Israel.
Western experts discounted Iran’s claims 90 per cent hit targets and analysts branded the blitz another embarrassing flop and a 320 missile and drone attack in April was also repelled.
The Middle East now appears on the brink of all-out war as raging Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned the terrorist state had made a “big mistake”.
He warned: “There is also a deliberate and murderous hand behind this attack – it comes from Tehran.
“We will stand by the rule we established: whoever attacks us – we will attack him.”
Israel Defence Forces’ Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari branded the multiple strikes “a severe and dangerous escalation” and warned: “There will be consequences.”
Israel is now planning a major response to last night’s unprecedented Iranian missile attack – likely to hit Iranian oil plants and air defence system.
A retaliation firestorm may also include targeted assassinations.
Iran’s crucial Kharg island could be one of Israel’s main targets – which up to 95 per cent of the country’s oil export flows.
by Nick Parker, Foreign Editor, in northern Israel
I’D just ordered a coffee in a roadside cafe on my way back from Israel’s northern war zone when the alert flashed up on my phone.
It read: “Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack against Israel. Please take cover as soon as possible.”
I was sitting in a pizza restaurant in a much-rocketed area north of the coastal port of Haifa when the warning pinged in my pocket.
Moments later I saw other diners picking up their phones as warnings reached them but was impressed by their stoicism as they carried on munching on their margaritas.
These were people who have endured daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah for nearly a year but even they began to shuffle in their seats as more warnings appeared on their mobile security apps.
This was clearly something much bigger than the daily Hezbollah barrage from the north.
And moments later we were jammed in the door as it was confirmed that more than a hundred Iranian ballistic missiles flying at 14 times the speed of sound were on their way.
This was confirmed to be only the first of several waves of attacks heading out way.
We ran across the road into a concrete shelter where English speakers told me to expect to be stuck there for some time as I tapped out my story using the glow of my laptop screen.
Then moments later the first booms split the air high above as Iron Dome interceptors engaged the incoming rockets.
I – probably very foolishly – took a sneak peek into the sky outside and watched trails of red rockets racing up to meet the missiles in a spectacular but potentially deadly firework display.
But scary spectaculars like this have become a way of life for the people of northern Israel – who clearly trust the boffins whose rocket wizardry had saved their lives yet again.
It remained unclear whether Iran’s terror masters had inflicted death or destruction as they attempted to decimate their hated enemy.
And this may be just the first of many terrifying tests for the people of Israel, their enemies and the millions caught in the crossfire as the threat of a catastrophic war looms.
