Wikipedia

2024 Israeli ground operation in Lebanon

On 30 September 2024, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) entered Lebanon in a series of raids as part of an escalation in the ongoing Israel–Hezbollah conflict. On the same day, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) withdrew from the Blue Line. The Israeli army also said that the northern border is a closed military zone.[2]

2024 Israeli ground operation in Lebanon
Part of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)
Date30 September 2024 – present
Location
Southern Lebanon
Status Ongoing
Belligerents
 Israel  Hezbollah
Commanders and leaders
Israel Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel Yoav Gallant		 Hezbollah Naim Qassem
Hezbollah Hashem Safieddine
Strength
Unknown 20,000–100,000[1]

Background

Main articles: 2024 Lebanon pager explosions, Assassination of Ibrahim Aqil, September 2024 Lebanon strikes, and Assassination of Hassan Nasrallah

Since 8 October 2023– a day after the Hamas-led attack on Israel that began the ongoing Israel-Hamas war– Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, and Israel have engaged in a continuous exchange of strikes that have approximately displaced 96,000 Israelis and 1 million Lebanese.[3][4][5]

The conflict escalated in September 2024. On 17 and 18 September, thousands of handheld pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in a coordinated series of attacks.[6] The explosions killed 42 people and injured at least 3,500, including civilians.[7][8][9] Health Minister Firass Abiad said the vast majority of those treated in emergency rooms were in civilian clothing and their Hezbollah affiliation was unclear.[10] Qassim Qassir, a Lebanese expert on Hezbollah,[a] said the attacks mostly struck civilian workers, leaving its military wing largely unaffected.[13] Reuters reported that, according to an unnamed Hezbollah official, 1,500 Hezbollah fighters were taken out of action due to injuries, with many blinded or having lost their hands.[14] Despite Israel denying involvement with the attack,[15] unnamed Israeli sources told Reuters and other media that it was orchestrated by Israel's intelligence service (Mossad) and military.[16][17][6] In response, Hezbollah, who described the attack as a possible declaration of war by Israel, launched a rocket attack on northern Israel a few days later.[18][19]

On 20 September, tensions further rose after Ibrahim Aqil was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut, along with other senior commanders from the unit.[20][21] After ordering Lebanese citizens to evacuate, Israel began a series of airstrikes on 23 September, killing over 800 and injuring more than 5,000 in the first week.[22][23]

On 27 September the IDF dropped more than 80 bombs,[24] including US-made 2,000-pound (910 kg) bunker buster bombs, on the headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut, destroying it along with nearby buildings and assassinating several senior Hezbollah leaders, including secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah.[25][26]

Raids

Preparations

On 30 September, Israel informed the United States that it intended to carry out a ground maneuver in Lebanon aimed at clearing Hezbollah's infrastructure along the border. That evening, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) withdrew from the Israeli-Lebanese border to the north to a distance of 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the border and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared that the settlements of Metula, Misgav Am and Kfar Giladi are a closed military area.[27] Israeli troops were amassing on the border in Southern Lebanon, with Israel stating that they were preparing for a limited ground invasion.[28]

Initiation of hostilities

On 30 September, IDF troops officially crossed the border into Lebanon in a series of small scale raids intended to precede a broader ground invasion.[29][30][31] Witnesses have said that they have heard sounds of tanks in Southern Lebanon.[32][better source needed][33] There were also reports of heavy artillery striking the border towns of Southern Lebanon.[34] The IDF called for evacuations in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, as they were preparing to bomb it.[35] Hezbollah also claimed that it had confirmed hits on IDF soldiers in towns opposite of Odaisseh and Kafr Kila.[36][better source needed]

On 1 October, the IDF confirmed the existence of their ground operation in a statement on Telegram, specifying that they intended to strike Hezbollah infrastructure. Shortly after the release of this statement, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari also confirmed the operation.[37] Prior to the release of these statements, the IDF had made no announcements about the operation.

International reactions

  •   France: Deployed a naval warship off the coast of Lebanon to aid in the evacuation of its nationals from Lebanon.[38]
  •   Canada: started evacuating its nationals from Lebanon by reserving 800 passenger seats on available commercial flights. The Canadian foreign minister said that "The security situation in Lebanon is becoming increasingly dangerous and volatile,".[38]

Notes

  1. ^ Qassim Qassir has been described as expert on Hezbollah[11][12]

References

  1. ^ "What is Hezbollah and why is Israel attacking Lebanon?". BBC News. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  2. ^ Chao-Fong, Léonie; Belam, Martin; Gecsoyler, Sammy; Yerushalmy, Jonathan (30 September 2024). "Middle East crisis live: Israel launches small raids across border amid reports Lebanese army is pulling back". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Dangerous stasis on Israel's northern border leaves evacuees in limbo". Reuters. 11 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Around one million Lebanese displaced by Israeli attacks, official says". Ynetnews. Reuters. 28 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  5. ^ "110,099 displaced from southern Lebanon since Oct. 8, 2023". L'Orient Today. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  6. ^ a b Kent, Lauren (17 September 2024). "Israel behind deadly pager explosions that targeted Hezbollah and injured thousands in Lebanon". CNN. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  7. ^ Christou, William (20 September 2024). "'We are isolated, tired, scared': pager attack leaves Lebanon in shock". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  8. ^ Hijazi, S. (20 September 2024). "Nasrallah: We suffered a 'hard blow'... but Israel failed". L'Orient-Le Jour. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  9. ^ Brennan, David; El-Bawab, Nadine (18 September 2024). "20 more dead, 450 injured as new round of explosions rocks Lebanon: Health officials". ABC News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  10. ^ Chao-Fong, Léonie; Ambrose, Tom; Lowe, Yohannes; Belam, Martin (17 September 2024). "Lebanon explosions 'an extremely concerning escalation', says UN official, as Hezbollah threatens retaliation – as it happened". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Despite Gaza battle, Hezbollah-Israel mutual deterrence holds". The Arab Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Thousands of Iran-backed fighters offer to join Hezbollah in its fight against Israel". Naharnet. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  13. ^ "The exploding device attacks dealt a major but not crippling blow to Hezbollah, analysts say". Associated Press. 19 September 2024.
  14. ^ Bassam, Lailla; Mackenzie, James (25 September 2024). "Hezbollah's tunnels and flexible command weather Israel's deadly blows". Reuters.
  15. ^ "Israel-Lebanon latest: Israel had 'no connection' with deadly exploding pager attack, president claims". The Independent. 22 September 2024. Archived from the original on 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  16. ^ Skopeliti, Clea (18 September 2024). "First Thing: Israel planted explosives in thousands of Hezbollah pagers – reports". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 September 2024. Israel placed explosives inside thousands of pagers imported by Hezbollah months before Tuesday's extraordinary attacks, according to sources cited by Reuters and US media.
  17. ^ Frenkel, Sheera; Bergman, Ronen; Saad, Hwaida (18 September 2024). "How Israel Built a Modern-Day Trojan Horse: Exploding Pagers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024. Even before Mr. Nasrallah decided to expand pager usage, Israel had put into motion a plan to establish a shell company that would pose as an international pager producer. By all appearances, B.A.C. Consulting was a Hungary-based company that was under contract to produce the devices on behalf of a Taiwanese company, Gold Apollo. In fact, it was part of an Israeli front, according to three intelligence officers briefed on the operation. They said at least two other shell companies were created as well to mask the real identities of the people creating the pagers: Israeli intelligence officers.
  18. ^ "Dozens of Hezbollah members wounded in Lebanon when pagers exploded, sources and witnesses say". Reuters. 17 September 2024. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  19. ^ "Hezbollah Chief Nasrallah: Israel Crossed All Red Lines, This Is a Declaration of War". Haaretz. 19 September 2024. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  20. ^ Westfall, Sammy; George, Susannah (20 September 2024). "Who was Ibrahim Aqil, the Hezbollah leader killed in Israeli strike?". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  21. ^ Jalabi, Raya; Shotter, James (21 September 2024). "Israel kills elite Hizbollah commanders in Beirut strike". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  22. ^ Kingsley, Patrick; Boxerman, Aaron (23 September 2024). "Israel and Hezbollah Trade Heavy Fire; Over 180 Killed in Lebanon, Officials Say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  23. ^ Siddiqui, Usaid. "Israel attacks Lebanon updates: Beirut suffers 'unprecedented' bombardment". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  24. ^ Bergman, Ronen; Kingsley, Patrick (28 September 2024). "Israel Tracked Nasrallah for Months Before Assassination, Officials Say". The New York Times.
  25. ^ "Israeli airstrikes rock Beirut, target Hezbollah command". Reuters. 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  26. ^ "Israel says it struck Hezbollah's headquarters as huge explosions rocked Beirut". Associated Press. 27 September 2024. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Israel plans an imminent and limited ground operation in Lebanon, according to US official source cited by multiple media: Day 360 of the Gaza and Lebanon wars". L'Orient Le Jour. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Lebanon latest: Israel tells US it plans to launch limited ground incursion into Lebanon". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Israeli Special Forces Launch Raids Into Lebanon Ahead of Expected Ground Incursion". The Wall Street Journal. 30 September 2024.
  30. ^ "Live updates: Israeli ground operation in Lebanon appears to have begun, U.S. officials say". NBC News. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  31. ^ Harvey, Lex; Haq, Sana Noor; Radford, Antoinette; Hammond, Elise; Sangal, Aditi (30 September 2024). "Live updates: Hezbollah leader's killing escalates war with Israel". CNN. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  32. ^ Al Arabiya [@AlArabiya_Brk] (30 September 2024). "مراسلة العربية: سماع هدير دبابات في مناطق حدودية بالجنوب اللبناني" [Al Arabiya correspondent: Tanks roar heard in border areas in southern Lebanon] (Tweet) (in Arabic) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "Israel launches small ground raids against Hezbollah as fight in Lebanon intensifies". Associated Press. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  34. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (30 September 2024). "Heavy Israeli artillery shelling reported toward Lebanese border town". The Times of Israel.
  35. ^ "Live updates: Israeli ground operation in Lebanon could be imminent, officials say". NBC News. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  36. ^ @ALJADEEDNEWS (30 September 2024). "جيش العدو يدعو سكان مبان في الليلكي وحارة حريك وبرج البراجنة بالضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت إلى إخلائها فوراً" [The enemy army calls on the residents of buildings in Al-Laylaki, Haret Hreik and Burj Al-Barajneh in the southern suburbs of Beirut to evacuate them immediately.] (Tweet) (in Arabic). Retrieved 30 September 2024 – via Twitter.
  37. ^ Hagari, Daniel [@IDFspokesperson] (30 September 2024). "בהתאם להחלטת הדרג המדיני, צה״ל החל לפני מספר שעות בפעולה קרקעית ממוקדת ומתוחמת במרחב דרום לבנון נגד יעדי ותשתיות טרור של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה, במספר כפרים סמוכים לגבול, מהם נשקף איום מיידי וממשי ליישובים ישראלים בגבול הצפון. צה״ל פועל על פי תוכנית סדורה שתוכננה במטה הכללי ובפיקוד הצפון, ואליה הכוחות התאמנו ונערכו בחודשים האחרונים. הכוחות הקרקעיים מלווים במאמץ תקיפות של חיל האוויר וכוחות תותחנים, שתוקפים מטרות צבאיות באיזור במאמץ מתואם עם לוחמי כוחות היבשה. שלבי המערכה אושרו ומתבצעים בהתאם להחלטת הדרג המדיני. מבצע ״חיצי הצפון״ נמשך על פי הערכת המצב במקביל ללחימה בעזה ובזירות נוספות. צה״ל ממשיך להילחם ולפעול להשגת מטרות המלחמה, ועושה כל מה שנדרש על מנת להגן על אזרחי מדינת ישראל ולהשיב את תושבי הצפון לבתיהם בביטחון. אנו מבקשים לא להעביר שמועות ודיווחים לא רשמיים על אודות פעילות כוחות צה״ל, ולהיצמד להודעות הרשמיות בלבד" [In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, the IDF began a few hours ago a targeted and delimited ground operation in southern Lebanon against terrorist targets and infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, in a number of villages near the border, which pose an immediate and real threat to Israeli settlements on the northern border. The IDF operates according to a regular plan designed by the General Headquarters and the Northern Command, for which the forces have trained and prepared in recent months. The ground forces are accompanied in an attack effort by the air force and artillery forces, which attack military targets in the area in a coordinated effort with the fighters of the ground forces. The stages of the campaign have been approved and are being carried out in accordance with the decision of the political level. Operation "Northern Arrows" continues according to the assessment of the situation at the same time as the fighting in Gaza and other arenas. The IDF continues to fight and act to achieve the goals of the war, and does everything necessary to protect the citizens of the State of Israel and return the residents of the north to their homes safely. We ask not to pass on rumors and unofficial reports about the activities of the IDF forces, and to stick to the official announcements only] (Tweet) (in Hebrew). Retrieved 30 September 2024 – via Twitter.
  38. ^ a b "DIRECT. Liban: Israël annonce mener des raids contre des cibles du Hezbollah dans le sud du pays" [LIVE. Lebanon: Israel announces raids against Hezbollah targets in the south of the country.]. BFMTV (in French). 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  39. ^ Mccready, Alastair; Jamal, Urooba; Mohamed, Edna; Siddiqui, Usaid; Varshalomidze, Tamila; Najjar, Farah (30 September 2024). "Israel bombs Lebanon updates: Israel announces ground operation in Lebanon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
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