By New York Post (World News) | Created at 2024-09-30 23:15:10 | Updated at 2024-10-01 01:48:10
2 hours ago
Israel has begun its invasion of southern Lebanon, which US and Israeli officials say is a limited incursion aimed at taking out Hezbollah outposts.
After mobilizing its tanks and troops, and securing a wide stretch of the northern border on Monday, the IDF began conducting a series of “limited” ground raids into southern Lebanon before midnight local time.
The boots-on-the-ground operation will see Israeli soldiers take out Hezbollah’s tunnels, rocket launchers and weapons caches along the southern border, all in an attempt to halt the terror group’s ability to launch daily attacks over the border, Israeli officials said.
Just before the operation began, the Lebanese army withdrew, according to reports — leaving the terror group Hezbollah alone to face the Israel Defense Forces.
Israel said the primary goal of its operations against Hezhollah is to halt the daily rocket and missile attacks on towns and villages in the north of the Jewish state — and allow tens of thousands of displaced residents to return home.
The US was allegedly made aware of the plan just hours before it began, with President Joe Biden telling reporters Monday afternoon that he was opposed to further escalation in the region.
“I’m more aware than you might know,” Biden said of the looming incursion, “and I’m comfortable with them stopping. We should have a cease-fire now.”
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US is being briefed on the incursion as it advises Israel to avoid “miscalculations” and “unintended consequences.”
“They have at this time, told us that those are limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border, but we’re in continuous conversations about it,” he said of the evolving situation.
Biden and Miller’s concerns were echoed by several foreign ministers in the European Union, who backed the American president’s call for a cease-fire through diplomacy.
Israel, however, has maintained that a policy of “de-escalation through escalation” is the only way to end Hezbollah’s daily attacks on northern Israel that has left tens of thousands displaced since Oct. 8.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel’s latest operation was part of a new phase to end the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
“It will be a significant factor in changing the security situation and will allow us to complete the important part of the war’s goals, returning the residents to their homes,” Gallant said in a statement.
With Post wires
