They are described as "limited efforts focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border", according to AP.
A source close to Iran-backed Hezbollah tells AFP that the group has attacked Israeli soldiers who were located right at the border.
That they are making raids before starting a larger operation is not unusual, according to Anders Ekholm, lieutenant colonel at the Defence University.
"Two alternatives"
I see two alternatives that this can constitute. One can be what we call combat reconnaissance, a forward-deployed unit that goes in and seeks combat with the opponent to get leads on how they function and are organized, he says.
Another alternative can be that it is a purely diversionary maneuver, it can have the same partial purpose as the first, but that it exists to mislead the enemy about where the real thrust will come from somewhere.
At the same time, Israel has declared a military zone in parts of the country's northern border against Lebanon, ahead of a possible ground operation.
"It is forbidden to enter this area", Israel's military announces in a statement.
Voice has been raised for a ceasefire in Lebanon. Among others, US President Joe Biden has said that "we should have a ceasefire now". But since Israel has the military momentum, it is not likely, according to Ekholm's assessment.
Militarily, when you have momentum and success, then a de-escalation is the most illogical thing to do. The logical thing is to step on the gas pedal.
Going well for IDF
Since the large-scale attacks where hundreds of Hezbollah-linked persons and walkie-talkies exploded in mainly Lebanon earlier in September, something that Israel is accused of being behind, it has gone well for Israel's military, according to Ekholm.
They have eliminated key person after key person. And likely caused tremendous chaos with these persons, it was probably very many in the organization who were injured and cannot participate and perform their tasks, he says.
There are also source reports that Lebanon's military is "regrouping and repositioning" itself after Israel's threats of a large-scale ground offensive. It is forces stationed at the southern border that are changing positions, according to a source who has spoken to AFP.
