In short: 

IDF officials said targeted raids against Hezbollah were being conducted in the border area of Lebanon and Israel.

Israeli tanks have been gathering near the country's border with Lebanon, as speculation continues to grow it will launch a ground invasion.

What's next: 

The deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, Israel's primary adversary in Lebanon, says the militant group is ready for any invasion by Israel.

The Israeli military says it has started a "limited" and localised ground operation in southern Lebanon.

IDF officials said targeted raids against Hezbollah were being conducted in the border area of Lebanon and Israel.

"The ground forces are accompanied in an attack effort by the air force and artillery forces, which attack military targets in the area in a coordinated effort with the ground forces fighters," it said.

Israel had earlier told the United States limited ground operations would be focused on Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon near the border with Israel, the US State Department said.

"This is what they have informed us that they are currently conducting, which are limited operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure near the border," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

Asked to confirm they were limited ground operations, he said: "That is our understanding."

It comes as Israel's defence minister all but confirmed plans to launch a large-scale ground invasion of Lebanon — although not the timing of it — as the country's military continued gathering near the border.

The operation aims to clear areas near the so-called Blue Line, which separates the states, of Hezbollah infrastructure.

Such a move would be the first time since 2006 that Israel had invaded Lebanon.

It would also signal yet another escalation in its conflict with Hezbollah just days after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assassinated the militant group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut.

In a speech to troops on Monday, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said: "The elimination of Nasrallah is an important step, but it is not the end."

He said Israel would use "all the means that may be required ... from the air, from the sea and on land. Good luck."

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