Israeli Ground Raids Launched Against Hezbollah Strongholds
‘Limited’ Israeli ground raids are launched against Hezbollah strongholds for the aim of ‘intense fighting’ as Lebanon invasion. Israel has sent its paratroopers and commandos in the launched raids as an open announcement of ground invasion in Lebanon.
Israel wants to destroy Hezbollah’s leadership, which they are not satisfied with even after killing Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli military initiated the ground raids on the northern front two weeks ago from Gaza but now it has officially declared the raids last night that involved the elite 98th division.
(Also read: Israel Launched Extensive Strikes In Fortified Hezbollah Regions)
Israeli ground raids engaged in “limited, localised, and targeted ground raids” for the elimination of Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanese villages which appears as “an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel”.
A Lebanese source opened up about the current situation in Lebanon that Israeli units had crossed into Lebanon last night for possible probing operations. They said that Lebanese forces also withdrew from their border posts.
The Lebanese army elucidated that the pullback was meant for a repositioning, which is one of the strategies to get ready for any further attack. It wanted to strategise its monitoring points in southern Lebanon, they said.
Further, the Hezbollah fighter group explained that it had launched rocket and artillery attacks against the Israeli army towards their own positions within Israel. They had made no comments on Israeli forces within Lebanon.
Lebanese nationals were warned by the Israeli army not to drive their cars from the north of the Litani River southward. Since it was their target of attacks last night, Israel wanted to clear Hezbollah from the southern region of the river.
What has caused Israeli ground raids to become so intense?
Israel has given heavy blows to Hezbollah previously for attacking the Middle East’s most powerful proxy when it assassinated its leader Hassan Nasrallah last week in Beirut.
Although Israel has proclaimed a full-fledged invasion of Lebanon after having a decade-long victory in the said assassination, it has promised to enable the fleeing citizens from Hezbollah rockets to return to their homes once the northern border conflict is over.
Iran and its allies are now in fear that it might result in the biggest Middle East war and make Lebanon “another Gaza”. The war would be disastrous for both Washington and Tehran because Iran’s allies—Hezbollah, the Houthis of Yemen, and various Iraqi military forces—have joined the assaults.
Yemen’s Houthi group’s spokesperson mentioned in a media speech that they sent drones to Israeli military posts in Tel Aviv and Eilat on Tuesday.
Previously, Lebanon has stayed away from getting into serious conflict with Israel and had never fired on Israeli forces in the last year. It knew that the extreme consequences would have to be borne by the citizens, just like Palestine.
The border village of Aita al-Shaab in Lebanon has been subjected to heavy shelling, according to locals. The sounds of helicopters and drones kept coming throughout the night. The flares and lighting in the sky were evident when the launch was witnessed in the Lebanese border town of Rmeish.
Another strike was reported on a building in the crowded area of Ain al-Hilweh where the Palestinian refugee camp was situated. It was the first strike on any Lebanese camp for the Palestinians. Israel did not comment on the strike.
Reports from Syria also came regarding Israeli strikes on the capital Damascus. Three civilians were killed and nine injured. However, Israel refrained from commenting on that too, by saying that it does not comment on foreign media reports.
The White House and US Department of State have not commented on the Israeli ground raids after sending a request. However, President Joe Biden called for a ceasefire yesterday.
