The escalation comes after the Israel Defense Forces' long-anticipated ground incursion into southern Lebanon began Monday night.

Israel began its ground assault overnight, aiming to rid southern Lebanon of the Hezbollah terror threat and allow more than 60,000 Israeli residents of northern Israel to return to their homes after nearly a year of daily rocket attacks.

Click Here to watch the CBN News LIVE report

IDF troops packed up and headed into southern Lebanon, launching localized and limited raids against Hezbollah terror targets that present the most imminent threat to nearby Israeli communities.

Explosions lit up the night sky as the soldiers attacked.

IDF Chief Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari announced, "Hezbollah turned Lebanese villages next to Israeli villages into military bases already for an attack on Israel. Hezbollah had planned to use those villages as a staging ground for an October 7th invasion into Israeli homes." (Screengrab image: via CBN News)

Hagari explained why Israel invaded.

"If the state of Lebanon and the world can't push Hezbollah away from our border, we have no choice but to do it ourselves," Hagari declared. "I want to make it clear our war is with Hezbollah, not the people of Lebanon."

A larger invasion is planned, according to a report in The Washington Post. At the same time, Israeli jets kept up bombing runs in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, where Hezbollah is headquartered. The Israeli Air Force also hit Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon.

After the invasion, ...Joe Biden remarked, "We should have a ceasefire now."

The State Department is working for a ceasefire, but Spokesman Matthew Miller acknowledged Hezbollah is to blame for the war and that Israel has a right to end it decisively.

"It was Hezbollah on the day after October 7th that started launching rocket attacks across the border that had not stopped until this day. And Israel has a right to defend itself against those attacks," Miller stated.

So far, Iran is not coming to the aid of its top proxy in the region.

Jared Kushner, former President Trump's son-in-law and the point-man for the Abraham Accords, posted on X, "This is significant because Iran is now fully exposed. The reason why their nuclear facilities have not been destroyed, despite weak air defense systems, is because Hezbollah has been a loaded gun pointed at Israel."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message directly to the Iranian people on Monday, promising, "When Iran is finally free—and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think—everything will be different. Our two ancient peoples, the Jewish people, and the Persian people, will finally be at peace." (Screengrab image: via CBN News)

Netanyahu added, "Iran will thrive as never before—global investment, massive tourism, brilliant technological innovation based on the tremendous talents that exist inside Iran. Doesn't that sound better than endless poverty, repression, and war? Don't let a small group of fanatic theocrats crush your hopes and your dreams."

Iranian-born Israel resident Ramin Parsa told CBN News most Iranians detest the regime.

"I can tell you with certainty that 95% of the people in Iran, they don't want the Islamic regime," Parsa said. "The regime basically has no support from within, from the people."

Parsa continued, "If you remember, on April 13th, when the regime attacked Israel, the first thing that the regime did, they put anti-riot forces on the streets because they were more afraid of the people rising up than even Israel attacking back. So that's why they were so scared." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Why the New RomCom ‘MERV’ Can Bring You Joy This Christmas

How the 'Heavens Declare the Glory of God': What One Man's Research Has Revealed about The Star of Bethlehem

Over 50 Tren de Aragua Gang Members Imported Under Democrats Indicted in Nebraska in Massive Nationwide ATM Jackpotting Scheme

205 Child Victims Located and Rescued in DOJ Sex Exploitation Op

Trump Admin Pausing All Off Shore Wind Project Construction Due To National Security Concerns

Trump Grants Federal Workers Two Additional Christmas Holidays

America Fest 2025: Erika Kirk Endorses 'My Husband's Friend' JD Vance for President

Brent Bozell Confirmed as US Ambassador to South Africa

Jury Quickly Convicts Judge Who Helped Illegal Migrant Escape ICE

Feds Estimate Somali-Linked Fraud in Walz's Minnesota Could Top $9 Billion

Trump SUSPENDS 'Green Card Lottery' after Program Let Brown University–MIT Shooting Suspect Enter the US

Brown, MIT Shooter Found Dead for Days in NH Storage Unit; Motive Still a Mystery

House Passes Bill to Criminalize Transgender Mutilation of Children

November Inflation Falls to 2.7%, Lower than Expected: 'This Is Good News for Wall Street; It’s Good News for Main Street'

MOVIEGUIDE's Review of the New Animated Film: DAVID

Massachusetts Drops Controversial Gender Ideology Mandate for Licensing Foster Care Parents

Nearly 40% of Women Suffer Severe Grief for Years after Abortion, Miscarriage: Study

Former Pfizer Vice President: COVID Shots Were 'Designed to Cause Injury,' Reduce Fertility

Dutch Sheets Shares a Warning from the US National Counterterrorism Center

Venezuela: Trump's Pressure Campaign and Maduro's Fury