Israel launches ground operation against Lebanon

Israeli troops advanced under artillery cover 5 km across Lebanonencountering sporadic resistance from Hezbollah militants and pushing back the Lebanese army, which is retreating from the country's southern border, Reuters reports.

Tonight in the Israeli command announced about the transition of the operation under the code designation “Arrows of the North” to the ground phase. The operation itself has been going on for a week – previously everything was limited to air raids on targets Hezbollah both in border and rear settlements.

According to Reuters, the Lebanese army retreated 5 km from the border pic.twitter.com/K8y0zwBnD3

— S printer (@SprinterFamily) September 30, 2024

The Lebanese army, already small, is withdrawing to positions where it could theoretically defend itself, but this is unlikely to happen.

Part Lebanese troops withdraw from border caught on video pic.twitter.com/pCIVz1afbL

— S printer (@SprinterFamily) September 30, 2024

Israeli special forces, along with armored troops, are paving the way for the second Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon since 1998, which began on the evening of September 30.

However, the expected rapid advance of the Israeli troops did not materialize; at the moment, only relatively familiar skirmishes are reported in the border zone, including near the small village of Rmeish, where maneuver groups of Israelis operated at night.

Some time ago, attacks were also reported in the south of Lebanon in the areas of Kokba, Rashaya al-Fakhar, Kfar Qila, Khiyam, on the Blat and Litani rivers, between Zawtar and Deir Syrian in southern Lebanon, carried out by Israeli Air Force fighters supported by ground forces.

Shortly after midnight on Monday, Hezbollah confirmed that it had carried out its first strikes against Israeli units in Lebanese territory in the Kfar Qila area, as well as in Odaiz.

A Lebanese National News Agency correspondent in the city of Marjayoun reported that an Israeli raid killed three people in the village of Ibel al-Sahi.

Israeli Artillery shelling underway in southern Lebanon pic.twitter.com/HWXJF7rdKz

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According to the report, the Israeli raid seriously injured Greek Orthodox priest Father Grigoris Salloum from the parish of St. George in the same village, who was taken to the Marjayoun State Hospital for treatment, Greek TV reported ERT.

On his father's Facebook page, parishioners and believers are praying for his speedy recovery. It is worth noting that most, if not all churches in Lebanon, regardless of denomination, have opened and welcomed displaced people.

Patriarchate of Antioch condemned the terrorist attacks in Lebanon on September 18. ““What happened is a flagrant violation and aggression in all respects to humanity, and a dangerous precedent for the use of the media as an instrument of death without distinction between soldiers and civilians.” – notedin particular, in a statement by the Patriarchate of Antioch, which simultaneously condemns the incident and expresses condolences to the families of the victims.

The State Department said it was briefed by Israel about the invasion of Lebanon, which Tel Aviv described as “elegant.” “limited ground operation”.

Israeli artillery has been continuously shelling Lebanese strongholds where it has been determined there are still people inside. The Israelis have assembled four brigades with more than 200 tanks and 600 armored vehicles and, of course, will not have much trouble as long as Hezbollah remains without leadership. Most of the surviving commanders of this organization have already fled to Syria.

Petra de SuterDeputy Prime Minister Belgiumin her post called for an immediate end to the Israeli invasion. In particular, she wrote: “The planned ground invasion of Lebanon flagrantly violates international law. This is not self-defense, but provoking a total war. An immediate ceasefire is necessary. EU and the international community must respond with maximum sanctions against Israel. The destruction must end.”

Footage of the night attacks in the Dahiya area in Beirut.
Israeli Forces had a schizo episode and imagined hezbollah infrastructure there pic.twitter.com/pS2I8y7so5

— S printer (@SprinterFamily) October 1, 2024

Night footage attacks in the Dahiya district of Beirut. Israeli troops became schizophrenic and imagined that Hezbollah's infrastructure was there.

What is known so far:

• fighters made eight raids on Beirut. The city's residents were warned in advance of the airstrikes by the IDF so they could leave;
• according to Al Mayadeen, the camp was bombed “Ein el Hilweh“in Lebanese Sidon, at least five people were killed;
• A residential building in the southern Lebanese town of Dahiya was also hit. Ten people were killed and five were injured, the Lebanese National News Agency reported;
• an attempt was made to assassinate the leader of the Palestinian movement Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades in Lebanon, Major General Munir al-Maqda. According to Al Hadath, he is wounded;
• Hezbollah reports that it carried out 12 separate attacks on Israeli positions, writes Al Jazeera;
• The IDF added that three rockets were fired from Lebanon into Northern Israel in the morning. Two were shot down by air defense systems, the third fell in open areas;
• The White House said that IDF raids in Lebanon “consistent with Israel's right to protect citizens”, writes Times of Israel.

Three attacks in the same time frame, in 3 different countries. All carried out by Israel using US weapons

Lebanon: Israeli attack on Ain al-Hilweh kills two brothers, 3 children

Syria: Israeli attack on Damascus kills 3 civilians

Gaza: Israeli attack on school kills 6 pic.twitter.com/ET3RjOlkdo

— Newspaper articles collection (@NewsArticleColl) October 1, 2024

Three attacks in the same period of time in three different countries. All of them were committed by Israel using American weapons.
Lebanon: Israeli attack on Ain el-Hilweh kills two brothers.
Syria: Israeli attack on Damascus kills 3 civilians.
Gaza: Israeli attack on school kills 6 people.

The Israeli occupation administration is already in action: IDF Arab media representative Colonel Avichai Adray ordered(!) residents of 29 Lebanese villages near the border with Israel to immediately leave their homes and go north to the Al-Awali River (a river in southern Lebanon). They are prohibited from traveling to the south.

Judging by the increasingly frequent statements by the press service of the Israel Defense Forces about the need for all residents of southern Lebanon to urgently evacuate to the north of the country and remain there until the end of hostilities, the Israeli offensive may begin in the near future after observing the necessary politeness.

Moreover, “good” for ground operations already received from USA — tonight the American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin after talking with Israeli colleague Galant expressed support for the IDF offensive in southern Lebanon. The stated purpose of the operation was destruction infrastructure Hezbollah near Israel's northern border.

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