Israel's widely expected ground invasion of Lebanon appeared to be getting underway early on Tuesday as its military said troops had begun "limited" raids against Hezbollah targets in the border area.
The military said in a statement that it had begun "limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence" against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon villages close to the border that posed "an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel".
It said the air force and artillery were supporting the ground forces with "precise strikes."
Local residents in the Lebanese border town of Aita al-Shaab reported heavy shelling and the sound of helicopters and drones overhead. Flares were repeatedly launched over the Lebanese border town of Rmeish, lighting up the night sky.
On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had told local council heads in northern Israel that the next phase of the war along Lebanon's southern border would begin soon, and would support the aim of bringing home Israelis who have fled Hezbollah rockets during nearly a year of border warfare.
The ground invasion represents an escalating conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Iran-backed militants, sparked by an assault on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct 7, 2023, that now threatens to suck in the U.S. and Iran.
An Israeli strike in Lebanon early on Tuesday targeted Mounir Maqdah, commander of the Lebanese branch of the Palestinian Fatah movement's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, according to two Palestinian security officials.
His fate was unknown.
The strike hit a building in the crowded Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern city of Sidon, the sources said. It marked the first strike on the camp, Lebanon's largest Palestinian camp, since cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel broke out nearly a year ago.
In Syria, three civilians were killed and nine others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the capital Damascus, Syrian state media said on Tuesday citing a military source. Israel's military said it does not comment on foreign media reports.
Israel has been carrying out strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria for years but has ramped up raids since the Hamas attack on Israel's southern territory on Oct. 7, 2023.
Hamas killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostage in its assault on Israel, according to Israeli tallies. Israel in response launched a massive assault on Hamas in Gaza, reducing most of the Palestinian territory to rubble, displacing most of its 2.3 million people and killing more than 41,300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.
STRIKES ON BEIRUT
Israel's ground invasion into Lebanon follows its deadly detonation of booby-trapped Hezbollah pagers, two weeks of airstrikes, and its killing on Friday of Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah, which dealt the group one of the heaviest blows in decades.
The intensive air strikes have eliminated several Hezbollah commanders but also killed about 1,000 civilians and forced one million to flee their homes, according to the Lebanese government.
Overnight, strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs, a security source said. A Reuters reporter witnessed a flash of light and a series of loud blasts about an hour after the Israeli military warned residents to evacuate areas near buildings it said contained Hezbollah infrastructure south of the Lebanese capital.
In the past 24 hours, at least 95 people had been killed and 172 wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon's southern regions, the eastern Bekaa Valley, and Beirut, Lebanon's health ministry said early on Tuesday.
Hezbollah's deputy leader Naim Qassem, in a first public speech on Monday since Nasrallah's death, said that "the resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement."
He said Hezbollah had continued to fire rockets as deep as 150 km into Israeli territory.
"We know that the battle may be long. We will win as we won in the liberation of 2006," he said, referring to the last big conflict between the two foes.
Late on Monday, Lebanese troops pulled back about five kilometers from positions along Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a Lebanese security source told Reuters. A Lebanese army spokesperson did not confirm or deny the movement.
Lebanon's army has historically stayed on the sidelines of major conflicts with Israel, and in the last year of hostilities has not fired on the Israeli military.
The White House and the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Israel's ground operations in Lebanon.
But on Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden had called for a ceasefire.
"I'm more worried than you might know and I'm comfortable with them stopping," Biden told reporters when asked if he was comfortable with Israeli plans for a cross-border incursion. "We should have a ceasefire now."
Israel last week rejected a proposal by the U.S. and France calling for a 21-day ceasefire on the Lebanon border to give time for a diplomatic settlement that would allow displaced civilians on both sides to return home.
© Thomson Reuters 2024.
78 Comments
bass4funk
There will never be a two-state solution, never. Do you think the Israelis by large would allow that? Honestly, now...
After what Hamas did last year, regardless if they have their own state or not it will never be the end until the Jewish people are kicked out of their homeland. Just being real.
Chabbawanga
Many people do. I dont. And i would expect such serious allegations to be thoroughly investigated and proven correct before they are thrown around like emotional ammunition to justify the horrific campaign Israel has been running in Gaza.
wallace
Chabbawanga
Some of the released female Jewish hostages from Gaza have spoken about being raped daily by the Palestinians. I watched on the TV myself.
I doubt that will ever happen in this situation so I accept the word of the victims.
Chabbawanga
This is just one case. It doesnt mean rape didnt take place. Again, it requires a proper investigation.
Chabbawanga
Testimonies are important, but they must be verified as part of a proper investigation.
Chabbawanga
Yes. And just like any other nation, Israel should abide by international laws, ending their occupation and blockade of Palestinian territories.
Chabbawanga
Without real freedom to govern themselves, free from occupation, military control, and economic blockades, Palestinians cannot be fairly judged on their capacity for self-rule.
wallace
Some of the released female Jewish hostages from Gaza have spoken about being raped daily by the Palestinians. I watched on the TV myself.
wallace
This is a Zionist war, not a Jewish one.
Raw Beer
Well, family members have come out and said there was no rape. The Grayzone documented this well, based mainly on israeli media.
The only rapes that have been well documented are of the Palestinian prisoners/hostages, raped by israeli military/police....
Attilathehungry
Chabba- recognize a Palestinian state? They haven't proved that they can govern themselves in any fashion.
But you did not answer also- should the terrorists (as well as Chabbawanga) recognize and accept that Israel is a nation, just like any other?
Chabbawanga
There has still been no conclusiv me evidnce presented. Scantily clad women on motorbikes whilst terrible does not count as rape. Many of these people were already dressed in next to nothing when they were dancing at the festival. Thats how psytrance raves tend to look.
Chabbawanga
But the recognition of a Palestinian state and their right to exist is not part of this?
TaiwanIsNotChina
I think Iran and to a lesser extent Israel had something to do with it.
Roger Gusain
The Middle East is in flames thanks to the useless Biden administration.
Dango bong
Hamas and Hezbollah are both funded by the same terrorist sugar daddy called Iran. The rape stories were NOT debunked by anyone, and they actually drove naked Israeli women around Gaza while people cheered. It is documented.
Maybe spend less time sympathizing with murderous terrorists and study.
Dango bong
again many people are forgetting how this conflict started....
Israel did not go into Gaza and kill 2000 people and rape people and take hostages...
Zaphod
Raw Beer
...they were actually recorded by Hamas. Do you claim the Hamas terrorist had any restraints on behaviour?
The IDF was not present in the area, which actually allowed this to happen. (And that is a legit point of suspicion by the way, there are people who say the attack politically helped Bibi). I wonder where you get your information from?
burgers and beers
White House announced it is sending thousands of US troops to the ME one day after Biden said he wouldn't do exactly that. And they say Trump is lying, facepalm.
Pentagon sending personnel to Middle East day after Biden said he wouldn’t add combat troops
The Pentagon announced on Monday that it is sending a "few thousand" U.S. personnel to the Middle East to support Air Force squadrons a day after President Biden vowed not to send combat troops to the region. Speaking with reporters on Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. was sending a "few thousand" more troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to defend Israel, if needed. Biden gave a firm "no" when asked Sunday if he planned to deploy additional combat troops to the Middle East. https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/israel-lebanon-invasion-hezbollah-sep-30
Christopher
The bunker bombs used to kill the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a deep shelter were American-made.
Yes they were made in the good ole US of A.
So was the Ginsu missile that took out Al-Zawahri.
The R9X doesn’t carry an explosive payload. Instead, it has a series of six rotating blades that emerge on its final approach to a target.
Hezzy leaders should not be caught out in the open. Israeli army has them too.
Attilathehungry
Beer, you may want to ask the rape victims if the stories were debunked. They might have something to tell you. Photos are readily available of young terrified girls with obvious signs of sexual assault being paraded about by the 'brave fighters" of Hamas. And yes it was not Hezbollah, but Hezbollah put their seal of approval on the atrocities by firing rockets into Israel the very next day. Rockets that are unguided and inaccurate, and cannot be targeted with any degree of certainty.
buchailldana
The word " limited " doesn't really sit well with Israeli actions.
wallace
Jordan has been very quiet on the Gaza War and the assault on Lebanon.
https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-gaza-war-and-threats-to-jordans-domestic-and-regional-stability/
wallace
The bunker bombs used to kill the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a deep shelter were American-made. I think five were used.
burgers and beers
Where and when does this ever end?
Biden administration not supplying ever more weapons to fuel the war would be a good start.
Raw Beer
First, that was Hamas, not Hezbollah. Second, the rape stories were debunked, and most of the israeli civilian casualties of Oct 7 were killed by the IDF.
Yes, they target IDF. But that might change now after what israel has done.
Attilathehungry
Beer...to the terrorists, every Israeli is a legit target. WItness the brutal rapes and murders on October 7. Witness the indiscriminate rockets fired from Hezbollah. Are they targeted at the IDF? Are they even targeted at the Israeli government/ No, they are pure terror weapons. That ship has sailed. When Hezbollah makes the policy decision to use every Israeli as a target, they cannot complain when the same happens to them.
Raw Beer
Exactly, if we accept the death of any Hezbollah member as legit, then we should equally find acceptable the death of any israeli government employee.
TaiwanIsNotChina
And you've always been supportive of Russia invading. Funny that.
Zaphod
I am no friend of Bibi, but what is Israel supposed to do? Allow Northern Israel to be endlessly bombed by Hizballah without any response? The Israel critics never seem to answer that.
Attilathehungry
This ends when the terrorists recognize that Israel is a country, and deserves to exist. Any other answer is useless. The ones that don&t want to recognize that fact will be made room temperature.
Good work on the IDF for conducting a brilliant campaign so far.
Aly Rustom
the ayatollah is not part of Hezbollah.
Different country. Might I suggest a map and some basic Middle East geography 101?
Aly Rustom
No it won't.
Sven Asai
Demographically, as well following due to the transported aggressive image in nearly all global media, they have not the slightest chance in the longer run, not with killing a few terror leaders who will be replaced, not with a small and half-hearted limited ground invasion and maybe also not with an easily to outnumber Iron dome or a few nukes in their possession as the very last step. But it's ok trying to postpone the final outcome a little bit, that is of course a considerable option.
Wasabi
When the hostages are all free and terrorists are stop. That was an easy answer.
kurisupisu
"I'm more worried than you might know and I'm comfortable with them stopping," Biden told reporters when asked if he was comfortable with Israeli plans for a cross-border incursion. "We should have a ceasefire now."
.
The commander in chief is obviously a lame duck as nobody pays attention to him.
Still, hold on!
Isn’t it American weapons that the Israelis are using to attack Lebanon?
Yes, that’s correct.
Joe Biden should be sending US troops to man the Israeli-Lebanese border to ensure that neither side incurs into the other-simple!
burgers and beers
Raiding and invading a sovereign state? Mysteriously some of the most vocal anti Russia Washington mouthpieces are very quiet when it comes to Israel doing the invading.
Chabbawanga
What negotiating was that exactly?
starpunk
It's been nearly a year since the Hamas dirtbag terrorists invaded Israel and took all those hostages. How many of them are still living now?
Netanyahu doesn't seem to care about them at all. He's had his feet in deep Knesset mud and now he's using the whole situation as a diversion to his advantage, with no apparent concern for the Israeli captives. And he cares not who or how he kills or destroys, he wants the whole dan Gaza pie and more! HE is the biggest problem here because he's the wrong PM for Israel.
And in this crazy war there are no winners. None.
Mr Kipling
Hezbollah are not terrorists. They were founded as a response to an illegal Israeli occupation. They have a military wing but also run charities and social services. Their political party has 20% of the parliament.
theFu
Almost nobody wants their country invaded by outside military, but until Hezbollah terrorists are all gone, there's little choice. They put this off too long hoping that some sort of peace could be negotiated. Clearly that has failed with Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists attacking Israeli with weapons of war.
How many decades are needed before peace can be achieved?
All it takes is for the terrorists to walk away and become peaceful. That's proven too hard, it seems.
itsonlyrocknroll
"The IDF began a few hours ago a targeted and demarcated ground operation in southern Lebanon against terrorist targets and infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hezbollah.”
A statement from an IDF military spokesmen.
A statement followed from the US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin
"I spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to discuss security developments and Israeli operations … We agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hizballah cannot conduct October 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities.”
The US government are hand in glove with the Government of Israel, lock step,
I suggest whatever US government public statements insisting otherwise,
The calls for a 21 day ceasefire are politically motivated "smoke screen" rhetorical propaganda to deceive mislead string along US Muslims before the November election.
Chabbawanga
Neverending war. Great plan
Chabbawanga
Has noone learned anything over the past 40 years? What happened after Abbas al-Musawi was assassinated in the early 90s? Did Hezbollah give up? Did they stop attacking Israel? No, Nasrallah made it stronger. They became more organized, more powerful as a military operation, and more aggressive towards Israel.
Deescalation through escalation is insane.
Chabbawanga
The Ukrainian people support a neo-nazi group. Is this not justification for Russias invasion of Ukraine? Surely they cannot rest whilst such a threat exists. How is this not identical to the situations in Gaza and Lebanon. Why is one acceptable and one is not? Why is it ok for Israel to invade Gaza or Lebanon to destroy their enemy, but not Russia?
stormcrow
Where and when does this ever end?
Wasabi
Free Lebanon from the Hezbollah terrorists
WoodyLee
Just In, Israeli Commandos have entered Lebanon and are already operating in the area.
CaptDingleheimer
Welp, all I know about that leader of Hezbollah guy is I bet he won't try that again.
itsonlyrocknroll
Iran's policy towards the State of Israel is total annihilation, from the "river to the sea"....
The Iranian State is "Islamofascist" .
Why pretend or even suggest otherwise, the people of Israel are fighting this war for the very existence of Jewish people.
These Islamic extremist terrorists are Nazis in "kufi" skull caps.
bass4funk
Good, it will make the IDF job easier.
wallace
The Israeli ground war in Lebanon has begun.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The invadee has been lobbing missiles from its territory unlike some other invadees.
RichardPearce
The willingness of the official 'Lebanese Military' to withdraw in the face of an ruthlessly oppressive, notoriously racist invader is why so many in Lebanon see 'terrorist Hezbollah' as the Lebanese Defense Forces, despite the foreigners insisting it should be disarmed and disbanded, and the not so representative government (the proportions each 'denomination' is allowed to elect is not the proportions of the actual population) looked on with some suspicion by many others in the denominations who cannot vote for Hezbollah.
Sanjinosebleed
What a joke! While he supplies them with bombs to slaughter women and children!
Arrest Netanyahu and his war criminals buddies now!
Fighto!
Smart - and practical move - by Lebanon. Vacate the south completely, and expose the terror group Hezbollah to annihilation.
The Israelis are doing the Lebanese government a huge favour by taking out Hezbollahs communications, entire leadership - and soon a great deal of their artillery.
Hezbollah is a rudderless group at this point, still capable of roasting quite a few Israelis alive, but facing catastrophe by the looks of it.
WoodyLee
Hezbollah fighters and it's former leader backed and fought along side the Syrian Army and Russia crushing the Syrian Revolution during the Arab Spring uprising against the dictator Assad and his backers in Iran and Russia.
Sh1mon M4sada
...meanwhile Ayatollah goes into hiding
https://www.opindia.com/2024/09/irans-supreme-leader-ayatollah-khamenei-goes-into-hiding-after-israel-eliminates-hezbollah-chief-nasrallah/
LOL, so much comedy today,
Ricky Kaminski13
Does Biden really believe that people take his seriously and listen to a word he says at this juncture ? I’m sure he does.
Then we have these sort of champions of justice and truth trumpeting there wares.
No wonder Israel just tunes out and does what it has to do to protect their own from the barbarians at the gate. Hezbullah in chaos and disarray, voices from within Lebanon already speaking sense and trying to take back their nation hijacked by these backward jihadist. God speed.
WoodyLee
Smart move by the Lebanese army, they are of NO match so better to stay alive and enjoy their Shisha Smoking than to be dead.
Billot
100%.
Sometimes I feel it's like conversing with an AI trained only on AlJazeera
JboneInTheZone
Their tactics are so easy to see through. International law only matters if it’s there to punish Israel. If Israel benefits then international law doesn’t matter and they’ll try to pivot away to some other argument
Aly Rustom
HEZBOLLAH SAYS IT IS READY TO FACE LAND INCURSION
I'm sure they are
Billot
Lol that was purely an attempt to speak in a language that the rabidly anti-Israel might comprehend.
But it's hardly necessary to refer to international law, which is more often than not plagued by bias by those supporting terror at the UN.
INSTEAD I need only mention that Israel has had to evacuate 10% of its ENTIRE LANDMASS because of Hezbollah missiles to the North of Israel.
In such a scenario, for example if Japan had to EVACUATE HOKKAIDO because Russia was lobbing rockets for A YEAR, you better believe Japan would FIGHT BACK.
JboneInTheZone
I don’t understand your point. Are you saying that UN resolutions matter or they don’t? If they matter then Hezbollah should be removed for not adhering to the resolution, no?
Yrral
Saks,the US left with blooded nose in Lebanon,where thousands of Palestinians were massacre with help of Israel Ariel Sharon Google Ariel Sharon Lebanon Massacre
sakurasuki
Please stop cherry picking International Law or UN resolution, that only being picked when it provide benefit and justification. Here' are some list that being violated.
.
https://itisapartheid.org/Documents_pdf_etc/IsraelViolationsInternationalLaw.pdf
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2019/01/chapter-3-israeli-settlements-and-international-law/
https://internationallaw.blog/2024/02/09/has-israel-violated-international-human-rights-law-as-an-occupying-power/
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/10/12/is-israeli-bombing-of-gaza-a-violation-of-international-laws
JboneInTheZone
Nothing you just wrote makes any sense and is riddled with meaningless buzzwords
sakurasuki
Since when UN resolution matter for them? "God" promise is more matter.
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/did-the-jerusalem-post-delete-article-claiming-god-gave-israel-lebanon-18214296
.
However at the end is all about business.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-settler-group-advertises-new-properties-southern-lebanon
JboneInTheZone
The majority of people in Ukraine support the Azov Battalion. The majority of people in Lebanon don’t support Hezbollah. Your comparison doesn’t make sense
No it isn’t.
Azov never committed terrorist attacks inside Russia or threatened to do so. Hezbollah has continuously attack Israel. Again, your comparisons don’t work
Billot
Lol SOME? Hardly, Lebanon is made up of Sunni muslims, Shia muslims, Druze, and Christians. Hezbollah is controlled by the Shia Islamist clerics from IRAN.
That leaves the MAJORITY in favor of UPROOTING the FOREIGN INFLUENCE OF IRAN.
The Lebanese army also WANTS Hezbollah gone, because they ARE POWERLESS relative to Hezbollah.
ADDITIONALLY: As per above, UN resolution 1701 for Hezbollah to be removed south of the Litani HAS NEVER BEEN ENFORCED.
Given that Israel has had to evacuate 10% of its ENTIRE LANDMASS because of Hezbollah missiles to the North of Israel, you better believe it's PAST DUE for Israel to FINALLY enforce resolution 1701, allow their citizens to return, and also shift the power balance within Lebanon AGAINST HEZBOLLAH
sakurasuki
@Billot since you use legal reference, don't forget one ruling from International Court of Justice this year.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/07/experts-hail-icj-declaration-illegality-israels-presence-occupied
Also, killing innocent 700 Lebanese, which UN resolution is that?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/9/27/israel-attacks-lebanon-israeli-bombings-kill-more-than-700-in-lebanon
Alfie Noakes
So all the genocide, ethno-fascist mass child murder, land theft and rape is ordained by God? This is bottomless evil, deranged, sadistic evil, funded and supported by the West. Zionism is Nazism.
Yrral
The government of Lebanon need to defend the dignity of their country,with every able body man in arms
The Ripper!
Even the Lebanese military wants to rid the country of the terrorist domestic occupier Hezbollah.
Smart move.
Billot
DEFINITELY! So MANY Lebanese CAN'T WAIT to GET RID OF HEZBOLLAH!!
Just check out Reddit r/lebanon. So many are CHEERING for the death of Nasrallah, they are dancing in the streets!
They are praying for the eventual demise of Hezbollah, and for Israel to make this DREAM a REALITY!
There are untold Syrian and Lebanese videos making fun of Hezbollah, it's WONDERFUL to see! No longer will Hezbollah abuse Lebanon. Go Israel!
Billot
Hardly: It's ACTUALLY to enforce UN resolution 1701 which dates back to 2006. This requires that Hezbollah move back to the Litani River, to be replaced by the Lebanese army.
Unfortunately, as I'm sure you fully understand, Hezbollah is EMBEDDED COMPLETELY south of the Litani.
As it TURNS OUT, they don't want to leave. Hence Israel's incursion to remove Hezbollah. The Lebanese army (separate from Hezbollah), is leaving, by contrast, to ALLOW Israel to uproot Hesbollah, which the Lebanes army is incapable of doing, since they are unfortunately too weak to do so.
They are also going to remove 150,000 missiles and rockets.
INCREDIBLY, when you take out the Hezbollah leadership, 150,000 missiles and rockets don't just go poof; they have to actually be REMOVED, and it seems Hezbollah want to keep em all.
sakurasuki
Attacking Lebanon it just repeated pattern from the past.
https://www.threads.net/@ajplus/post/DAYkJS5PSL2
Occupation some part of territory also happened to in the past.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_occupation_of_southern_Lebanon
.
Why, because it's already promised.
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/did-the-jerusalem-post-delete-article-claiming-god-gave-israel-lebanon-18214296