Hezbollah has vowed to continue fighting even after its longtime leader and other senior figures were recently eliminated by Israeli strikes.
The Israeli military launched smaller-intensity raids against Hezbollah on Monday as the IDF prepares for a larger ground operation in Lebanon, officials said. Hezbollah has vowed to continue fighting even after its longtime leader and other senior figures were recently eliminated by Israeli strikes.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Israel had informed the United States of the raids, which were described as “limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.” .
No direct clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants have been reported on Lebanese soil. The last time the two foes clashed on the ground was during a month-long war in 2006.
Israel conducts ground operations in Lebanon
A Western official, a diplomat in Cairo whose country is directly involved in de-escalation efforts, said thatan Israeli ground operation in Lebanon was “ imminent ». The diplomat said Israel had shared its plans with the United States and other Western allies, and that the operation would be “limited.”
The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. It was unclear whether Israel had made a final decision on a larger operation.
The Israeli army has not commented, but has made clear in recent days that it is preparing a possible ground operation.
Last week, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi told troops that Israel’s punitive airstrikes were intended to ” prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue to degrade Hezbollah “.
Israeli strikes have killed Hezbollah’s historic leader Hassan Nasrallah and six of its top commanders and officials over the past ten days, and have hit, according to the army, thousands of militant targets across large areas of Lebanon. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the country over the past two weeks, almost a quarter of them women and children, according to the health ministry.
Israel threatens Iran
Israel’s prime minister also issued a warning to Iran on Monday, days after an airstrike south of Beirut killed the leader of Lebanon’s Tehran-backed Hezbollah.
Benjamin Netanyahu declared that “ there is no place in the Middle East that Israel cannot reach “. Later on Monday, officials in Washington confirmed that Israeli troops were carrying out small raids across the border in Lebanon, but provided no details.
Hezbollah’s interim leader vowed the group would continue fighting following the death of its longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday.
Israel has also “eliminated” several of the group’s top commanders in recent days. Naim Kassem said on television that if Israel launched a ground offensive, the group’s fighters were ready. He added that the killed commanders had already been replaced.
EU calls for ceasefire
European Union foreign ministers call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and express support for UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon.
“ The guns must now be silenced and the voice of diplomacy must speak out and be heard by all EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters after chairing an emergency meeting on Monday.
“ The sovereignty of Israel and Lebanon must be guaranteed », added Mr. Borrell. “Any further military intervention would significantly worsen the situation and must be avoided.
ADVERTISEMENTMr Borrell said EU 27 ministers had discussed the need to increase humanitarian aid and ensure close coordination “in order to be ready to deal with any emergency situation”. .
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had discussed with his counterparts apossible evacuation of European nationals from Lebanon.
Both stressed the importance of the peacekeeping mission in South Lebanon, UNIFIL. “ The safety of UN peacekeepers is paramount ” said Mr. Borrell.
