Israel has launched small ground raids against Iran-backed Hezbollah and declared three of its northern communities a “closed military zone” — further signalling that it could be prepared to send forces into Lebanon. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel informed the US about the raids which he described as “limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.” Although there were no reports of direct clashes between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops, a Western official commented that an Israeli ground operation in Lebanon is “imminent.” The official, sp…