The United States warned Iran on Tuesday that there would be "serious consequences" if it attacked Israel militarily in retaliation for attacks on Tehran-backed militant organisation ‘Hezbollah’. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also backed Israel’s ‘right to defend’ itself. The Pentagon chief also backed "dismantling attack infrastructure" near the Israeli-Lebanese border, in response to Israel's "targeted ground raids" against Hezbollah, in a conversation with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

Austin restated the White House's stance that "diplomatic resolution is required" to guarantee the safety of civilians on both sides of the border. “I reiterated the serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel,” he said.

“We agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hezbollah cannot conduct October 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities,” said Austin. Adding further, he said, “The United States is well-postured to defend US personnel, partners, and allies in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organisations and determined to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict.”

Highlighting the progress of the conflict, the Israeli military earlier in the day announced that its soldiers had begun conducting "targeted ground raids" in southern Lebanon's villages. Hezbollah militants are the target of the airstrikes and artillery-backed attacks, which started "a few hours ago" and are concentrated "in villages close to the border" with Israel, according to a military statement.

“The IDF began limited, localised, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon,” Israel’s military said in a statement. According to the Jerusalem Post, the IDF will be executing "a methodical plan set out by the General Staff and the Northern Command, which soldiers have trained and prepared for in recent months."