Israel-Hezbollah border tensions/ Lebanon evacuation orders/ Hezbollah-Israel conflict/ Israeli military operations/ Newslooks/ JERUSALEM/ BEIRUT/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Israeli military has warned residents of nearly two dozen Lebanese communities near the border to evacuate, following a ground incursion aimed at Hezbollah. Israel’s military announced limited raids to clear Hezbollah positions after weeks of escalating conflict. Hezbollah denied the incursion but declared it is ready to confront Israeli forces, as both sides exchange rocket fire and airstrikes.
Israel-Hezbollah Tensions Quick Looks:
- Israel warns Lebanese residents to evacuate after launching ground operations against Hezbollah.
- Israeli troops focus on border areas, while Hezbollah denies any ground incursion.
- Hezbollah fires new missiles at Israeli intelligence sites, with more strikes expected.
- Israeli Defense Forces signal readiness for deeper operations but no plans to reach Beirut.
- Over 1,000 casualties reported in Lebanon due to recent Israeli airstrikes.
Israel Issues Evacuation Orders as Ground Incursion begins in Lebanon
Deep Look:
The Israeli military escalated its campaign against Hezbollah on Tuesday, warning residents of nearly two dozen Lebanese border communities to evacuate. The warning came after Israeli forces launched what they called “localized ground raids” in southern Lebanon to target Hezbollah positions.
The Israeli evacuation orders extended to areas as far north as the Awali River, about 60 kilometers from the border, signaling a possible push deeper into Lebanon. This marked a significant shift in Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, which had primarily consisted of airstrikes until now.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military’s top spokesperson, stated that the limited raids aimed to secure Israel’s northern communities, which have been under rocket fire from Hezbollah for weeks. He emphasized that Israeli citizens should be able to return safely to their homes.
Hezbollah Denies Ground Invasion
Despite Israeli claims, Hezbollah denied that Israeli troops had entered Lebanon. Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif dismissed the incursion reports as “false claims” but reiterated the group’s readiness to confront any Israeli ground forces.
The escalation comes after weeks of airstrikes by Israel, which recently killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other top commanders. Hezbollah, however, has vowed to continue its resistance. In a televised statement, acting Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group is prepared to face a ground invasion, adding that commanders lost in recent attacks had already been replaced.
Continued Rocket Exchanges
Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks on Israel, including new medium-range Fadi 4 missiles aimed at intelligence agency headquarters near Tel Aviv. Israeli air defenses responded with artillery strikes, and air raid sirens echoed across central Israel. Israeli officials confirmed that one person was injured by the rockets.
Hezbollah claimed that the missile strikes on Israeli targets were “only the beginning” of a larger response, indicating that more attacks could follow in the coming days.
Israel’s Strategic Goals
The Israeli military’s operations seem to be focused on Hezbollah positions near the border, avoiding a broader offensive into Lebanon. Hagari cited the failure to enforce the U.N. resolution from the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah as part of the reason for the current conflict. The resolution had called for Hezbollah to withdraw from the area between the Israeli border and the Litani River, with U.N. peacekeepers overseeing the region. However, Israel maintains that Hezbollah continued to operate in the region despite these measures.
An Israeli military official stated that a march on Beirut, similar to Israel’s 1982 invasion, is “not on the table,” suggesting that the operation would remain confined to southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country is willing to support a ceasefire and deploy the Lebanese army in accordance with the U.N. resolution, although Hezbollah’s power far exceeds that of Lebanon’s official forces.
International Concerns and Evacuations
The intensifying conflict has raised fears of a wider regional war involving Iran, which backs Hezbollah, and possibly drawing in U.S. forces that have been stationed in the region in support of Israel. The international community, particularly European nations, has responded with evacuation efforts. The U.K. government has arranged a charter flight to evacuate British nationals from Lebanon, with 700 troops positioned in nearby Cyprus to assist if necessary.
Meanwhile, U.N. peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) expressed concern over Israel’s ground operations, warning that further incursions would violate the U.N. resolution. UNIFIL has called for restraint on both sides, but the situation remains tense as Israel continues its campaign against Hezbollah.
Hezbollah’s Capabilities
Hezbollah is regarded as one of the most formidable non-state military forces in the world, with an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles at its disposal. The group has been preparing for another confrontation with Israel since their last major conflict in 2006, which ended in a stalemate. Both sides have spent nearly two decades preparing for the next major conflict, but recent airstrikes have severely weakened Hezbollah’s leadership structure.
Israeli airstrikes have reportedly wiped out most of Hezbollah’s top commanders in recent weeks, and intelligence indicates that Israel has infiltrated deep within the group’s ranks. However, Hezbollah continues to assert its readiness to fight, suggesting that a prolonged and bloody confrontation could lie ahead if ground operations expand.
A Risky Phase of Conflict
The ground incursion marks a new phase of Israel’s efforts to neutralize Hezbollah, but it also risks unleashing further destruction on Lebanon. Over 1,000 people have already been killed in Lebanon due to Israeli strikes, nearly a quarter of them women and children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. With hundreds of thousands of people displaced, the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon is worsening, adding urgency to international calls for a ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict threatens to spiral into a broader war involving Hezbollah, Israel, and their regional allies. Both sides are bracing for more intense confrontations as the conflict enters a dangerous new stage.
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