West Jerusalem announced the start of cross-border ground raids in the early hours of Tuesday
Israeli soldiers work on tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APC) in northern Israel, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © AP Photo/Leo Correa
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the beginning of “limited, localized, and targeted ground raids” against the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon on Tuesday.
The goal of the operation is to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens living in the northern part of the country, the IDF said.
Hezbollah has been launching barrages of rockets at Israel in what it had said was an act of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
The incursion comes after more than a week of intense strikes that killed over 1,000 people in Lebanon. During the bombing campaign, the IDF killed several senior Hezbollah members, including the group’s long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
The IDF occupied parts of southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000 in what became known as the First Lebanon War in Israel.
Israel invaded Lebanon again in 2006, which resulted in a 34-day conflict with Hezbollah.
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01 October 2024
03:55 GMT
A video circulating on social media shows that thousands have gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem for prayer shortly after the start of the IDF ground incursion in Lebanon was announced.
🇮🇱✡️ — WATCH: During tonight's Selichot at the Kotel, thousands prayed for the safe and successful execution of the IDF's ground operation in Lebanon which began a few hours ago. pic.twitter.com/umPRuBSSre
— Belaaz News (@TheBelaaz) September 30, 2024
- 03:02 GMT
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has spoken with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant over the phone.
According to the Pentagon, Austin reaffirmed US support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran, as well as Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and “other Iran-backed terrorist organizations.” Austin and Gallant “agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hizballah cannot conduct October 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities,” the statement read.
At the same time, Austin pointed out that “a diplomatic resolution” would eventually be required to ensure that Israeli civilians could safely return to their homes in the northern part of the country, which borders Lebanon.
Austin also “made clear” that the US would defend its personnel, partners and allies against threats coming from Iran and allied groups in the region.
- 02:50 GMT
Canada has reserved 800 seats on commercial flights to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon as many airlines have started to suspend flights to the country amid Israel’s ground operation.
”The security situation in Lebanon is becoming increasingly dangerous and volatile,” Foreign Minister Melanie Joly wrote on X, calling on all Canadians to leave the Middle Eastern country as soon as possible.
- 02:33 GMT
At least five people were killed in the Israeli strike on the refugee camp in Sidon, the Al Mayadeen news agency reported.
- 01:40 GMT
Palestinian security officials have claimed that Israel’s Tuesday airstrikes on the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in Sidon were targeted at Mounir Maqdah, a senior commander of the Lebanese branch of the Palestinian Fatah’ movement’s military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. Maqdah’s fate remains unknown, according to Reuters.
- 01:10 GMT
The Israeli military operation in Lebanon is a “focused and limited mission” with no intention of occupying the southern part of the country, Axios reporter Barak Ravid claimed, citing two unnamed Israeli officials.
- 01:10 GMT
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett applauded the IDF’s military operation in Lebanon, writing on social media that “enough is enough.” He added that each soldier crossing the border is on a mission “to protect the citizens of Israel.”
- 00:58 GMT
Al Jazeera’s Arabic account has shared a video on X purporting to show Israeli tanks amassing on the border with Lebanon.
صور تظهر حشد الجيش الإسرائيلي لدباباته على الحدود مع جنوب #لبنان#حرب_غزةpic.twitter.com/OxO5qFTdF7
— قناة الجزيرة (@AJArabic) September 30, 2024
- 00:53 GMT
The IDF conducted a series of airstrikes on the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in the coastal city of Sidon in southern Lebanon, Al Jazeera reported.
The news channel MTV Lebanon said that the strike appeared to have “targeted a figure in the camp.”
- 00:35 GMT
The Israeli military has said that at least 10 rockets were fired from Lebanon. While some of the rockets were successfully intercepted, others crashed in remote areas, the IDF said. No damage or casualties were reported.
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