“Limited operations” by Israel – concern about ground offensive
Published: Monday, Sep 30th 2024, 22:20
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According to the US government, Israel has informed Washington of limited military operations on the Lebanese border. According to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Israel had informed Washington that these were "limited operations" focusing on "Hezbollah infrastructure near the border". He would not comment on the details. It was not clear whether this meant initial smaller and limited ground operations on the Lebanese side of the border, as some media interpreted.
According to US media reports, Israel is planning a limited ground offensive in Lebanon. This could begin within hours, the Washington Post and CBS reported, citing a US government official. US President Joe Biden did not directly confirm the reports in an exchange with journalists.
The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that Israeli special forces had already made small, targeted advances into the south of Lebanon. The Israeli army has not yet commented on this. According to the unconfirmed report, the aim of the advances was to prepare for a possible ground offensive.
Military declares several areas in northern Israel a restricted zone
Several areas in northern Israel were declared a restricted military area on Monday evening. These areas may not be entered, according to a military spokesperson on the order from the northern command of the Israeli troops. These are the areas near Metula, Misgav Am and Kfar Giladi near the Lebanese border.
Earlier, an army spokesman had spoken of exercises as part of the troops' increased combat readiness. In the afternoon, Israel's Defense Minister Joav Galant had said that the next phase of the fight against Hezbollah would begin soon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet also met on Monday.
The conflict between Israel and the Shiite Hezbollah militia, which has been going on for almost a year, has recently escalated. The Israeli military has been launching massive attacks in Lebanon for days. Hundreds of people have been killed in the process. Israel had previously declared the return of Israelis who had fled to their homes in the north of the country as a further objective in the Gaza war.
Hezbollah has also been firing hundreds of rockets at Israel every day since the renewed intense fighting. The militia opened its so-called "solidarity front" after the outbreak of the Gaza war and fired thousands of rockets at Israel. It does not want to lay down its weapons until the war in the Gaza Strip is over.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese have fled their villages and towns. Many are holding out in the capital Beirut and, due to a lack of accommodation, some are sleeping on mattresses on the Mediterranean city's coastal promenade. The latest escalation is likely to bring back memories of the last war between Israel and Hezbollah 18 years ago for many of the country's approximately nine million inhabitants.
Israel's defense minister alludes to ground operation
Israel's Defense Minister Joav Galant alluded to a possible ground operation in Lebanon on Monday. The killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was an important step, "but not everything yet", said Galant during a visit by troops to the northern border. "We will use all our capabilities."
The aim is still to enable the return of 60,000 Israelis who have been displaced from areas along the border for months as a result of Hezbollah attacks. They are prepared to "make every effort" and deploy troops in the air, at sea and on the ground.
Hezbollah on ground offensive: We are ready
For the first time after the killing of Nasrallah, the head of the Islamist militia spoke out and signaled its readiness to fight. "We know that the battle could last a long time and we are prepared for all possibilities," said deputy Hezbollah leader Naim Kassim in a televised speech. "If Israel decides to launch a ground offensive: We are ready." He did not say who would lead Hezbollah.
On Friday, Israel's army killed the secretary general of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in the south of the Lebanese capital Beirut. Many other leading members were also killed. Nevertheless, Hezbollah has recently continued its attacks on Israel.
UN: 100,000 have already fled from Lebanon to Syria
Meanwhile, the humanitarian emergency in Lebanon is coming to a head. According to UN figures, around 100,000 people have already fled to Syria since the massive Israeli airstrikes began. 60 percent are Syrians who had once sought refuge in Lebanon, 40 percent are Lebanese, reported the UN refugee agency UNHCR in Geneva.
In view of the worsening situation in Lebanon, an air force plane has flown embassy personnel out of the Lebanese capital Beirut. According to the Federal Foreign Office, there were around 110 passengers on board the Bundeswehr aircraft. The plane landed in Berlin at the capital's BER airport in the evening, as confirmed by a spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office.
Netanyahu warns Iranians: Israel can reach anywhere in the Middle East
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people in a video message. In it, he emphasized that there is no place in the Middle East that his country cannot reach. "Ask Mohammed Deif. Ask Nasrallah," he said in reference to the targeted killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. There was no place Israel would not go "to protect our people and our country". The government in Tehran was bringing the Iranian population "closer to the abyss" every day.
At the same time, Netanyahu found conciliatory words for the Iranians, combined with the hope of a change of power in Tehran: "When Iran is finally free - and the moment is closer than people think - everything will be different," he assured. "Two ancient peoples, the Jewish and the Persian, will finally be at peace."
Hezbollah and the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip are part of the so-called "Axis of Resistance", a network supported by the leadership in Tehran in the fight against the arch-enemy Israel.
©Keystone/SDA
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