Israel launches Lebanon ground offensive operation
Published: 04:10 PM,Oct 01,2024 | EDITED : 08:10 PM,Oct 01,2024
Residents and rescue teams inspect the damage following an overnight Israeli airstrike on the Ain al-Helweh camp, in Lebanon. — AFP
BEIRUT: The Israeli army said it launched a ground offensive in Lebanon and that its forces engaged in clashes on Tuesday, further escalating the conflict after a week of intense air strikes that killed hundreds.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said, however, the Israeli operation did not amount to a 'ground incursion' and while Hezbollah denied any troops had crossed the border, an Israeli security official said localised raids had taken place and they were limited in scope.
There was no way to immediately verify the claims, which came as Israel targeted south Beirut, Damascus and Gaza, despite international calls for restraint to avoid a regional conflagration.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned the fight was far from over, even after a massive strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday. His death dealt a heavy blow to the Iran-backed group.
The Israeli military said its forces, backed by air strikes and artillery, carried out 'limited, localised, targeted operations' in Lebanon. Only hours ahead of the Israeli military's announcement, Hezbollah said it was 'ready if Israel decides to enter by land'.
A military official said the Lebanese national army was 'repositioning' troops farther from the border.
World leaders called for de-escalation after Israel announced the launch of the ground operation. The United Nations warned Israel against a 'large-scale ground invasion'.
'With armed violence between Israel and Hezbollah boiling over, the consequences for civilians have already been terrible,' Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the UN rights office, told reporters in Geneva. 'We fear a large-scale ground invasion by Israel into Lebanon would only result in greater suffering.'
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin late on Monday gave Washington's backing to Israel 'dismantling attack infrastructure along the border'.
An Israeli security official said the raids were 'limited in scope', while refusing to comment about a specific timeframe or the extent of the ground operation.
Lebanon's official National News Agency said an Israeli air strike on Tuesday on Ain Al Helweh camp killed six people. It also reported Israeli shelling of border settlements, killing 10 people from the same family, including at least two children, in Daoudieh village.
Elsewhere, Syria's official news agency SANA said the country's air defences had intercepted three rounds of strikes in the Damascus area. State television said anchor Safaa Ahmad was killed 'in the Israeli aggression' on Damascus, while SANA reported three civilians killed and nine others wounded. There was no immediate comment from Israel, which has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria in recent years. — AFP
The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said, however, the Israeli operation did not amount to a 'ground incursion' and while Hezbollah denied any troops had crossed the border, an Israeli security official said localised raids had taken place and they were limited in scope.
There was no way to immediately verify the claims, which came as Israel targeted south Beirut, Damascus and Gaza, despite international calls for restraint to avoid a regional conflagration.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned the fight was far from over, even after a massive strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday. His death dealt a heavy blow to the Iran-backed group.
The Israeli military said its forces, backed by air strikes and artillery, carried out 'limited, localised, targeted operations' in Lebanon. Only hours ahead of the Israeli military's announcement, Hezbollah said it was 'ready if Israel decides to enter by land'.
A military official said the Lebanese national army was 'repositioning' troops farther from the border.
World leaders called for de-escalation after Israel announced the launch of the ground operation. The United Nations warned Israel against a 'large-scale ground invasion'.
'With armed violence between Israel and Hezbollah boiling over, the consequences for civilians have already been terrible,' Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the UN rights office, told reporters in Geneva. 'We fear a large-scale ground invasion by Israel into Lebanon would only result in greater suffering.'
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin late on Monday gave Washington's backing to Israel 'dismantling attack infrastructure along the border'.
An Israeli security official said the raids were 'limited in scope', while refusing to comment about a specific timeframe or the extent of the ground operation.
Lebanon's official National News Agency said an Israeli air strike on Tuesday on Ain Al Helweh camp killed six people. It also reported Israeli shelling of border settlements, killing 10 people from the same family, including at least two children, in Daoudieh village.
Elsewhere, Syria's official news agency SANA said the country's air defences had intercepted three rounds of strikes in the Damascus area. State television said anchor Safaa Ahmad was killed 'in the Israeli aggression' on Damascus, while SANA reported three civilians killed and nine others wounded. There was no immediate comment from Israel, which has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria in recent years. — AFP