Israel Gears Up for Possible Ground Invasion of Lebanon

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are gearing up for a potential ground operation as their conflict with Hezbollah escalates. Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the IDF’s chief of the General Staff, stated, “Today, we will continue, we are not stopping; we keep striking and hitting them everywhere.” He emphasized that the objective is to securely restore safety to residents in northern Israel, adding, “We are preparing the process of a maneuver, which means military boots will enter enemy territory.” This maneuver aims to engage with Hezbollah in areas that have been fortified as military strongholds, complete with underground infrastructure and launchpads targeting Israeli civilians.

Continuing its assault, Israel conducted extensive airstrikes on Wednesday, targeting locations in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, east of Beirut. Reports indicate that IDF struck 260 targets within Lebanon on the same day, intensifying military operations in the region.

Tragically, the ongoing Israeli airstrikes have resulted in significant casualties, with at least 636 people reported dead, including over 50 children, and more than 1,700 others injured, as per the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. In this grim context, Israel has mobilized thousands of troops in northern regions.

The United Nations has reported that over 90,000 individuals in Lebanon have been displaced due to five continuous days of airstrikes. Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has issued a stark warning, suggesting that the number of displaced persons could rise to approximately 500,000. He stressed that “the war in Lebanon will not help the Israelis return to their homes and negotiations are the only way to do so.”

In a significant development, Hezbollah launched a long-range ballistic missile at Tel Aviv for the first time, claiming the target was the Mossad headquarters. The group alleges that recent assassinations of its leaders and other attacks have been orchestrated by Mossad. Fortunately, the missile was intercepted by Israeli aerial defense systems, and the IDF reported that the launcher in Lebanon was also destroyed.

As strikes persist, Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Lebanon’s largest hospital, is bracing for more casualties. The facility has reopened multiple wings and established a large triage unit. Medical staff have even placed flags on the hospital roof marked with the letter “H” for identification from the sky. Dr. Jihad Saade, the hospital’s general director, voiced urgent concerns, stating, “I’m asking for this hospital not to be shelled. We don’t want the problem of Gaza to be repeated here, regarding shelling and bombing of hospitals.” He highlighted the dangers of a targeted attack on the medical institution.

During the UN General Assembly, international leaders have advocated for de-escalation between Israel and both Hamas and Hezbollah, calling for a cease-fire to halt the war with Hamas and seek a diplomatic resolution to the escalating conflict with Hezbollah.

Despite the urgent calls for peace, mediators attempting to facilitate a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas find themselves further from an agreement than ever, according to senior U.S. officials. In a rare joint statement, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan condemned what they termed “Israeli aggression against Lebanon,” asserting that such actions could ignite an all-out regional conflict.

The foreign ministers emphasized that stopping “the dangerous escalation begins with halting Israeli aggression against Gaza.” Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has also chimed in, asserting that the killing of Hezbollah members will not cripple the organization.

Source: ABC News