Israeli ground forces crossed into southern Lebanon on Sept. 30, in what may be the opening phases of an Israeli invasion of the country.
“In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a press statement early on Oct. 1.
The IDF said planning and training for the “methodical operation” has been ongoing for months.
Dubbed Operation “Northern Arrows,” the IDF said it’s targeting Hezbollah targets close to Israel’s northern border that “pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”
“The IDF is continuing to operate to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes.”
The reported operations come as Israel has been signaling an escalating fight with Hezbollah; a Shia Muslim political and paramilitary faction within Lebanon designated as a terrorist group by the United States and Israel.
Lebanon’s state-backed National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli artillery strikes in Marjeyoun, southern Lebanon, and further Israeli airstrikes on the southern Wazzani and Khiyam communities. NNA said a Lebanese army soldier was killed in the Wazzani strikes.
The Israel Defense Forces issued evacuation advisories for civilians in several areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut earlier on Sept. 30, warning that the IDF would soon target those areas.
The United States confirmed it was aware of limited Israeli military ground operations inside Lebanon’s border earlier on Sept. 30.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Sept. 30, based on anonymous sources, that Israeli special operations forces launched a limited operation inside a tunnel system on the Lebanese side of the border.
“I’ve seen reports about ground operations,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Sept. 30. “We’ve had some conversations with [Israeli officials] about that. They have, at this time, told us that those are limited operations.”
Miller provided few additional details about the Israeli operations, stating the “limited operations” have focused on “Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.”
Israeli forces have been fighting with Hezbollah in a cross-border skirmish for nearly a year.
Last week, IDF chief of staff Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi advised IDF ground forces to prepare for the possibility of a ground operation against Hezbollah.
On Sept. 25, the Biden administration joined with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, Qatar, and the European Union in a joint statement urging a cease-fire in accordance with existing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which outlines a demilitarized zone along the Israel–Lebanon border. The parties to the joint statement urged an immediate 21-day cooling-off period in the growing cross-border conflict to allow time for a diplomatic solution to emerge.
Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated the cease-fire push in a separate bilateral joint statement on Sept. 25.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed the cease-fire calls, saying he hadn’t responded to the joint U.S.–French message and calling for the IDF to “continue fighting with full force” because Hezbollah had been in violation but with no consequence since Oct. 8, 2023, and that Israel has no option but to defend its residents from its attacks.
Israeli aircraft continued to fly sorties over the weekend, targeting several Hezbollah leaders, including the Lebanese faction’s political leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah was killed in a Sept. 27 airstrike.
“Israel may be now launching a limited operation into Lebanon, are you aware of that? Are you comfortable with their plans?” a reporter asked President Joe Biden at a White House press event on Sept. 30.
“I’m more aware than you might know,” Biden replied, “and I’m comfortable with them stopping. We should have a cease-fire now.”
On Sept. 30, the Israeli military announced a closed military zone around the Israeli border communities of Metula, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi, and barred civilian entry in those areas. The IDF said this area would remain closed until at least Oct. 6.
Jackson Richman contributed to this report.
From The Epoch Times