The Israeli military says it has begun a “limited, localized” operation against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
It said it was carrying out “targeted ground raids” in villages close to the Israeli border. The targets, it said, pose an “immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”
It announced early Tuesday that the operation has been planned in recent months and was launched after approval by political leaders.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday offered support to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for "dismantling attack infrastructure" along the border with Lebanon, after Israel launched "targeted ground raids" on Hezbollah.
Austin also issued a warning to Iran of "serious consequences" should it directly attack Israel in response, he said on social network X.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has begun a limited ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon, the army said in a statement.
ReplyDelete"In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel," the statement reads.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant agreed during their call on "the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure" along the Israeli border to ensure that Lebanon's Hezbollah movement cannot launch an attack on northern Israel, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
ReplyDelete"They 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 department said in a statement.
The US supports plans by Israel to conduct “limited operations to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure,” a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council told Al Arabiya English on Monday.
ReplyDeleteThe spokesperson said they understand Israel is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure that could be used to threaten the safety of Israeli citizens.