What was initially speculation is now fact: an all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel appears to be on the way, although the Israeli military says it will be a “targeted and limited” invasion, targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure and not an occupation.
With Israel’s national security cabinet approving the “next phase” of the conflict, the Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon began, with Tel Aviv aiming for a decisive blow against the terrorist group that has threatened the Jewish state for decades.
Despite Israel’s claims of a limited invasion, Brussels-based military analyst Elia Magnier says Israeli forces on the Lebanese border is growing in size and likely plans to surround and destroy Hezbollah special forces in southern Lebanon, two units south and one unit north of the Litani River.
“What the Israelis tell us is not happening. According to the information that we have, the Israelis have prepared at least 18 brigades.
“So we are talking about 70,000 to 100,000 troops,” Magnier told Al Jazeera.
This is the IDF’s first ground operation in the country since the Second Lebanon War in 2006.
The invasion timeline
The IDF announced that its forces have launched a “targeted and limited” ground invasion in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure in Lebanese villages along the border, which pose a direct threat to Israeli cities on the other side.
The campaign, dubbed “Arrows of the North,” which began with the attack on Hezbollah forces, will continue “along with the fighting in Gaza and other areas,” the Israeli military said, noting that it operates under a “methodical plan that was determined by the General Staff and Northern Command, for which IDF soldiers have been training and preparing in recent months.”
According to Arab media, IDF tanks entered several villages in southern Lebanon, supported by air and artillery forces.
In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized and targeted ground attacks based on accurate intelligence against terrorist targets and Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. These targets are located in villages…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 30, 2024
Hezbollah’s counterattack
Meanwhile, Hezbollah issued a statement after midnight saying it was targeting Israeli troop movements near Lebanese border towns.
An alarm was also raised in the Meron region of northern Israel when around 10 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon.
#BREAKING ‼️
The ground incursion began in South Lebanon. @IDF officially to Lebanon, please take a minute to pray for his safe return and may his mission be successful.
May God protect the IDF!First footage from the front line⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ pic.twitter.com/laJthTQtgd
-Frankie™️ (@B7frankH) September 30, 2024
New attacks against Beirut
Parallel to the invasion, massive and successive explosions, at least eight, were heard throughout the Lebanese capital, with a huge cloud of smoke covering the city. The Israelis said, in an announcement in Arabic, that they should leave three buildings in Dahiya, considered a Hezbollah stronghold.
Israeli warplanes continued to fly over Beirut’s southern suburbs following the bombings.
Three dead in Damascus
Israel also carried out an attack on Damascus, where at least three civilians were killed and nine other people were injured, including a journalist.
Lebanese troops were regrouped
Shortly before the intervention, Lebanese troops regrouped, withdrawing from their positions along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, at least five kilometers north of the border.
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