“Challenging days ahead”
Israel’s military chief hints at invading Lebanon
September 28, 2024, 7:23 p.m
Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi says he has approved plans for the armed forces’ Northern Command. Observers suspect an impending ground offensive. Meanwhile, the Israeli military is urging people to stay away from Hezbollah facilities.
After the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a targeted airstrike, Israel’s army chief Herzi Halevi hinted at the possibility of an invasion of neighboring Lebanon. He had completed a situation assessment and approved plans for the armed forces’ Northern Command, he said at the command’s headquarters in the northern Israeli city of Safed.
“Challenging days lie ahead,” he added in a video released by the army. The Israeli army is “on high alert, both defensively and offensively, on all fronts.” She is prepared for what comes next.
Israel has long been demanding that Hezbollah withdraw from the Israeli-Lebanese border about 30 kilometers north behind the Litani River in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was passed years ago. Israel wants to ensure the safety of its citizens in northern Israel.
Observers speculate that Israel could try to achieve this goal with a ground offensive in its neighboring country. The Israeli military killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah militia, in a targeted attack in a Beirut suburb on Friday.
Nasrallah had been at the head of the Shiite militia since 1992. He was one of Israel’s most difficult opponents. He coordinated closely with Iran and its Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hezbollah’s main backer. He has transformed the militia into a much more powerful and dangerous organization than it was during his predecessor’s time.
Israel calls on people in Lebanon to flee
The Israeli military has meanwhile urged people in parts of Lebanon to stay away from Hezbollah facilities and seek safety until further notice. The warning applies to residents of the Bekaa Valley in the east of the country, the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut and southern Lebanon, according to an appeal issued in Arabic by an Israeli military spokesman.
However, many people in areas controlled by Hezbollah often do not know which buildings are used by the Shiite militia. Such military evacuation calls are usually a sign of impending new Israeli attacks.
