How the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war set the stage for 2024

Both sides have been planning for the possibility of another conflict since the devastating month-long war 18 years ago

Israeli troops in Lebanon
Israel launched a doomed ground offensive in 2006 after it had exhausted air options
(Image credit: Thomas COEX / AFP / Getty Images)

The Israeli military earlier this week said it had begun a so-called "limited" and "localised" deployment of ground troops in Lebanon as its conflict with militant group Hezbollah continues to escalate.

The last time Israel launched a ground offensive over the border of its northern neighbour was in a bloody and unsuccessful 33-day campaign in 2006, which the government admitted ended "without its clear military victory".

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Richard Windsor is a freelance writer for The Week Digital. He began his journalism career writing about politics and sport while studying at the University of Southampton. He then worked across various football publications before specialising in cycling for almost nine years, covering major races including the Tour de France and interviewing some of the sport’s top riders. He led Cycling Weekly’s digital platforms as editor for seven of those years, helping to transform the publication into the UK’s largest cycling website. He now works as a freelance writer, editor and consultant.