Israel-Lebanon latest: Israel ‘launches cross-border raids’ as US official says ground invasion may be imminent
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warns next phase of war against Hezbollah along southern border of Lebanon ‘will begin soon’
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Israel has launched cross-border raids in Lebanon as a ground invasion may be imminent, according to officials.
Israel is conducting small, precision raids across the border in Lebanon and a larger ground operation is being planned, a US official and a Western official told The Associated Press on Monday.
The United States has observed positioning of Israeli troops that suggests that a ground incursion into Lebanon could be imminent, a US official said to Reuters.
The Independent has been unable to independently verify the reports.
It comes as Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday that the next phase of the war against Hezbollah along the southern border of Lebanon “will begin soon”.
Earlier, hinting at a ground invasion, he was quoted by Israeli media as telling armoured corps troops near the Lebanon border on Monday: “To return the residents of the north safely to their homes we will activate all our capabilities – including you.”
It comes as the deputy leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, vowed to be ready for an Israeli invasion in his first speech given since Israel killed the group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah over the weekend.
Israel intensified its airstrikes on Monday, hitting central Beirut for the first time since 2006, while also killing Hamas’s leader in Lebanon in the southern city of Tyre.
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Lebanon PM ready to implement 2006 deal ending Hezbollah’s armed presence
The Lebanese government is ready to fully implement a United Nations resolution that had aimed to end Hezbollah‘s armed presence south of the Litani River as part of an agreement to stop war with Israel, caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati has said.
Mikati said Lebanon was ready to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and deploy the army south of the river, which lies about 30 km (around 20 miles) from Lebanon’s southern border.
Mikati also said he and House Speaker Nabih Berri had agreed that electing a new president to end a near two-year vacancy at the top post would only happen after a ceasefire took hold, in comments delivered after the pair met in Beirut.
UK says it is doing ‘everything we can’ to help Brits evacuate Lebanon
The British government has said it is doing “everything we can” to secure seats on commercial flights as it reiterated calls for British nationals to leave Lebanon, PA Media reports.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “The prime minister has been very, very clear that British nationals should leave now, particularly whilst commercial flights are still available.
“We’re doing everything we can to work with commercial airlines to maximise capacity because we want people to leave, and I understand that there have been extra Middle East Airlines flights leaving Lebanon over the weekend, another scheduled for Tuesday and we have secured seats for British nationals on those flights.”
The spokesperson added: “What we’re focused on at the moment is securing extra spaces on commercial flights for those who do want to leave and reiterating our calls for those to leave and to register their presence with us and book the first available flights. We’re also working to send a rapid deployment team to bolster the efforts of our embassy in supporting British nationals who want to leave.”
Asked why an evacuation has not started, the spokesperson said: “We’ve been clear whilst there are commercial flights available, British nationals can and, indeed, should leave.”
The spokesperson also pointed to the deployment of 700 troops, alongside Border Force and Foreign Office officials, to Cyprus to continue work on “all contingency options and plan for a range of scenarios in the region”.
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The death toll from an Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese town of Ain Deleb has risen to 45, Lebanon‘s health ministry has said.
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Britain calls for ceasefire after Israeli strikes in Lebanon
Britian has urged all sides to seek de-escalation and a ceasefire after Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, reiterating that the region needs to pull back from the brink.
“We are ironclad in our support for Israel’s right to self-defence,” a spokesperson for prime minister Keir Starmer said. “But our very clear message now is, on all sides, (for) all parties to show restraint.”
Israel has hit Lebanon with a two-week wave of attacks, eliminating Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and several commanders but also killing around 1,000 Lebanese and forcing 1 million to flee their homes. Hezbollah has pledged to confront any Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon.
“We want to see all sides step back from the brink,” he said. “Any further escalation must be avoided. A ceasefire will provide the space necessary to find the political solution that is necessary to secure peace in the region.”
Here are some of the latest photos from Lebanon
Gallant meets troops
More from the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, during his visit to see troops on the Lebanese border.
In a short video, he is seen telling troops that "we will use all the abilities we have and if someone on the other side did not understand what all the abilities mean - it's all the abilities.
"And you are part of this effort, we trust you to be able to accomplish anything."
“Everything that needs to be done – will be done," Mr Gallant adds. "We will use all the forces from the air, sea and land".
Israel special forces ‘conduct raids' in Lebanon
Israel has been launching small special forces raids into southern Lebanon as part of a potential ground offensive, according to a number of reports.
Israel officials told NBC News and The Telegraph that they are designed to gather intelligence and probe Hezbollah’s positions. The official went on to say that such operations have been going on for months and do not necessarily signal the imminent start of a ground assault.
But when taken with the words of Mr Gallant mentioned in the previous post, it is clear that Israel is preparing for some form of operation.
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