Israel Conducts Ground Raids Against Hezbollah Amid Tensions on Lebanese Border
Israel has initiated small ground raids against Hezbollah as preparations intensify for a potential larger military operation in Lebanon, according to official reports on Monday.
A U.S. official confirmed that Israel has kept the United States informed about the ongoing raids, although no specific timeline has been given for a more extensive operation. The U.S. has not instructed Israel to halt its actions in Lebanon, maintaining support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
A Western diplomat, involved in de-escalation efforts in Cairo, stated that an Israeli ground operation in Lebanon appears “imminent.” The diplomat indicated that Israel has shared its plans with both the U.S. and other Western allies, describing the upcoming operation as likely to be “limited.” Both officials requested anonymity due to the sensitivity surrounding the situation, and the Israeli military has not issued any official comments regarding the operations.
Hezbollah has declared its readiness to continue fighting, despite suffering significant losses, including the recent deaths of key leaders, including longtime head Hassan Nasrallah.
In the past ten days, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of Nasrallah and six other high-ranking commanders, alongside targeting thousands of militant sites across Lebanon. The Health Ministry reported that over 1,000 individuals have lost their lives in the region in just the past two weeks, with nearly a quarter of those being women and children.
On Monday, an Israeli airstrike struck a residential building in central Beirut, leading to the destruction of one apartment and damaging others while killing three Palestinian militants. This action illustrates Israel’s intention to assert that no area in Lebanon is off-limits.
Despite the significant setbacks, Hezbollah’s acting leader Naim Kassem affirmed the group’s resilience in a televised statement, asserting that Israel has failed to diminish their military capabilities. “There are deputy commanders and replacements ready if any commander is injured,” Kassem stated, emphasizing the group’s preparedness for a potential Israeli ground offensive. He also indicated that they anticipate a prolonged conflict.
Hezbollah has reportedly increased its rocket attacks significantly over the past week, launching several hundred daily, though most have been intercepted or have landed in uninhabited areas. Notably, there have been no Israeli fatalities since two soldiers were killed near the border on September 19.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, addressed troops on Monday, stating, “We will utilize all available capabilities,” hinting at an upcoming ground operation. Concurrently, several European nations have begun withdrawing diplomats and citizens from Lebanon, with Germany dispatching a military plane to evacuate diplomats’ relatives.
As Israeli forces have frequently targeted Hezbollah’s strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Monday’s strike represents a deviation from previous engagements, which typically avoided civilian-dense areas. The airstrike reportedly killed three members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group that has not been significantly involved in the recent hostilities.
In another development, Hamas confirmed the death of its top commander in Lebanon, Fatah Sharif, along with his family, during an airstrike on the Al-Buss refugee camp in Tyre, a targeted operation confirmed by the Israeli military.
With the ongoing conflict, both sides remain engaged in escalating violence, while calls for a ceasefire from the United States and its allies continue to be met with resistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Source: AP
