The international community is preparing for Israel’s imminent invasion of southern Lebanon, as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops are expected to move into the country on Tuesday morning.
A senior US official confirmed the invasion plans to Fox News on Monday. It is believed that the scale of the ground operation will be smaller than that conducted by Israel in its 2006 war with Hezbollah, and it is also expected to last for a shorter period of time.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli political security cabinet ministers have approved the next phase of the operation in Lebanon, but it is unclear when the incursions will begin. Israel launched attacks on Lebanon from Monday night to Tuesday morning, but the ground offensive did not begin until 1:30 a.m. local time.
Following confirmation of an imminent Israeli invasion on Monday afternoon, the Pentagon told reporters it was sending “a few thousand” more troops to the Middle East to augment already alert US forces there – in line with what President Biden said Exactly one day later. Do not deploy more troops in the area,
Pentagon sends more troops to Middle East amid conflict
Soldiers of the Israeli army’s 188th Brigade during exercises near the Lebanese border, in photos released September 30, 2024. (IDF spokesperson)
Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters that the increased presence would come from new troop deployments as well as expanding the deployment of previously assigned fighter jet squadrons.
Fighter jet squadrons of F-15 Strike Eagles, F-16, A-10 and F-22 fighter jets will now remain in the Middle East, although the Pentagon did not say for how long.
Singh said the increased force presence is not in support of a possible evacuation.
“They are there to protect American forces and, if necessary, they are there to protect Israel,” he said.
US President Joe Biden speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One en route to Washington, DC, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, US, on September 29, 2024. Reuters/Anna Rose Leyden TPX Images of the Day (Reuters/Anna Rose Leyden)
Israel’s top commander once again indicated this on Monday Jerusalem was preparing its army For a campaign in southern Lebanon.
“We will use all of our capabilities, and that includes you, to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities,” Defense Minister Yoav Galant told Israel Defense Forces troops deployed on the border with Lebanon.
Gallant told troops that the killing Friday of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s top leader who led the terrorist organization for more than 30 years, was “an important step, but it is not the last step.”
“We count on you to accomplish every mission you carry out,” Gallant said.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant meets troops on the northern border with Lebanon amid fighting with Hezbollah. September 30, 2024. (Photo credit: Ariel Harmoni Communications Office for the Israeli Defense Minister)
The world first braced for an Israeli invasion of Lebanon last week after Israeli security officials moved reserve forces to the north And advised the soldiers present there to be “ready”.
Although there has been no official order by Jerusalem for a ground offensive, Israel has launched a significant air campaign against Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon in the past week, as well as targeted strikes in Beirut.
Biden on Monday responded to reporters’ questions regarding the “limited” invasion, saying, “I’m more aware than you probably know.”
When asked if he was comfortable with the operational plans, he said, “I am comfortable with them stopping. We should have a ceasefire now.”
Special forces have reportedly been conducting small raids in southern Lebanon in the “past months” using tunnels built by Hezbollah but seized by Israel during Operation Northern Shield, which began in 2018.
tunnels, which were built along Iran’s support and assistance from North KoreaConnect southern Lebanon with northern Israel.
Israeli armored military vehicles are arrayed in northern Israel on September 30, 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. Reuters/Jim Urquhart (Reuters/Jim Urquhart)
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According to a report by wall street journal On Monday, unnamed sources said these “targeted” raids were carried out to gather intelligence on Hezbollah as well as to damage the group’s ability to attack Israel.
Israeli officials have said the increased strikes against the terrorist group are aimed at ensuring the safe return of some 60,000 residents who have fled the northern border due to concerns that an attack similar to the one on October 7 could be repeated.
Photos show a comparison between tunnels dug by North Korea and Hezbollah. (Image provided by ALMA Research and Education Centre)
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As fighting has escalated in the region and there is uncertainty over what Hezbollah and Iran’s reaction to Nasrallah’s killing might be, it is unclear when Jerusalem will be confident that these residents will actually be able to return to their homes.
“Our goal is to ensure the (safe) return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes,” Gallant told Israeli troops on Monday, according to a statement provided to Fox News Digital by the Israeli Defense Ministry. “We are ready to make every possible effort to accomplish this mission.
“We will use all means that may be required – your forces, other forces, by air, by sea and on land,” he said. “May you be successful.”
