OAN Staff James Meyers
8:25 AM – Monday, September 30, 2024
According to multiple reports, Israeli special forces have been carrying out intelligence-gathering raids in Lebanon ahead of an expected ground invasion in the next few days.
Advertisement
The raids have included targeting Hezbollah’s tunnels on the southern border amid preparation for a broader ground attack, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“The IDF has made a lot of preparations for a ground incursion,” Amir Avivi, a former senior Israeli military official still getting briefings, told the outlet. “Overall, this always includes special operations. This is part of the process.”
Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant implied on Monday that a ground operation against Hezbollah was imminent.
“Together with the fighters of the 188th Brigade on the northern border — the forces are ready and prepared to strike Hezbollah with force,” Gallant wrote in a post on X.
“Our goal is clear — returning the residents of the north to their homes. We will use all the means at our disposal to achieve this goal.”
Meanwhile, the terrorist organization is expecting a ground invasion, according to the group’s deputy leader Naim Qassem. This was his first remarks since Israel killed its chief, Hassan Nasrallah, last week.
“We will face any possibility and we are ready if the Israelis decide to enter by land and the resistance forces are ready for a ground engagement,” he said in an address from an undisclosed location.
The remarks come after Israel has carried out several airstrikes in Beirut and other areas of Lebanon, extending a two-week onslaught of attacks that have killed at least seven Hezbollah commanders.
However, Qassem has vowed the terrorist group is prepared for a long battle and said the killed commanders have already been replaced.
“Israel was not able to affect our [military] capabilities,” he said. “There are deputy commanders and there are replacements in case a commander is wounded in any post.”
“What we are doing is the bare minimum … We know that the battle may be long,” Qassem said.
Meanwhile, in the past week, Israel has frequently targeted Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a strong presence, including a large strike on Friday that killed Nasrallah.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisements below
Be the first to comment