The Israeli military said Monday it has launched a “targeted ground operation” against what it described as key Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, pushing additional forces deeper into the area as part of efforts to expand a security buffer along the border.

The Israeli army said the operation began late Saturday, when troops from the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division carried out a raid in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon. During the operation, soldiers encountered several Hezbollah operatives and killed them, the military said.

According to the army, the move is intended to widen what it called a “forward defense area” designed to protect communities in northern Israel.

“The operation is part of the effort to establish forward defense, including the destruction of terror infrastructure and the elimination of terrorists operating in the area,” the military said in a statement. “The goal is to remove threats and create an additional layer of security for residents of the north.”

Before ground troops advanced into the area, the military said it conducted extensive airstrikes and artillery shelling to neutralize potential threats.

The Israeli army said multiple divisions are currently operating in southern Lebanon as part of the broader campaign. The 146th Reserve Division remains deployed in the western sector of the area, while the 36th Division has been carrying out operations around the village of Rab al-Thalathine.

The Israeli army has been preparing to deploy additional forces in southern Lebanon as it seeks to further extend its buffer zone and push Hezbollah forces away from the border.