Thread by @ThetiMapping

Summary of day one of Israel's invasion of Lebanon🧵

Israeli operations are still nascent, with the focus being on slow, methodical advances along similar routes as the 2024 invasion. There is a focus on flanking border towns by assuming positions on nearby dominant heights.

The most eventful section of the border is the east. At 2:45pm Hezbollah claimed they scored a direct hit on a Merkava tank in the Al-Samakah position, located on the hills east of Kfar Chouba. This Israeli attack vector is favorable as they're occupying positions 1400m above sea level while the village itself is at 1150m.

The largest attacks occured south of al-Khiam. Israeli forces occupied the salient between Metula and Ghajar that was essentially unpopulated. Israeli tanks and armored vehicles are advancing south of al-Khiam along the Hamametz Ridge (600m). Heavy tank and artillery fire was recorded in al-Khiam throughout the night of March 2nd.

Israel is trying to drive a wedge between the al-Khiam and Kfar Kela garrisons by advancing along the vertical portion of the Marjayoun-Bint Jbeil road. Hezbollah shelled Israeli gathering points in the Galilee Panhandle such as Kfar Yuval and Metula (where they claimed they direct hit a Merkava tank).

Israeli tanks advanced along the Tel Nahas height (600m) in order to flank Kfar Kela from the north. At 3pm Hezbollah claims they directly hit a Merkava tank on this hill. At 3:30 apparently two additional tanks were sent to assist in evacuating the first tank that was hit. Hezbollah claims they targeted these tanks with ATGMs, foricng them to withdraw under the cover of smoke.

An Israeli Merkava tank and Namer APC were geolocated in the southern outskirts of Aadaysit Marjaayoun, confirming reports that Israeli forces occupied heights south of the village (800).

There's also a minor Israeli presence along the ridge between Margaliot and Houla, but this area was already occupied before today's advances.
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Further south, there were reports of slight Israeli advances along the heights east of Blida (600m). They also expanded their presence throughout the already occupied Shaked Ridge, southeast of Aitaroun (850). There's also some movement southeast of Yaroun, along a border region that is on the same elevation as the village itself.

The Lebanese Armed Forces were ordered to withdraw from 7 military outposts located adjacent to the Israeli border, including: Ayta al-Shab, Rmyach, Debl, Qouzah, Ain Ebel, Ramyeh. In this video 6 armored vehicles are moving northwards.

According to al-Akhabr, LAF Commander Rodolphe Haykal was angered by this decision but was ultimately overruled by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. UNIFIL forces were also ordered not to leave their bases.

The Lebanese Army has set up checkpoints and even arrested 12 armed Hezbollah members. Hezbollah released an official statement saying those arrested weren't official members of the party, and that they were detained for transporting unlicensed weapons.

The Israeli advances are spearheaded by the 91st Territorial and 146th Reserve Armored Divisions. The 210th Territorial Division is occupying the buffer zone in Syria, but they could also participate in operations along the eastern section of the Lebanese border. Alternatively, we could see the 36th/98th Divisions deployed back to Lebanon, as they already fought there in 2024, time will tell.