Berlin. The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is threatening to worsen. Concerns are growing about a possible Israeli ground offensive.
Israel is greatly increasing military pressure on the Hezbollah in Lebanon. In several waves of strikes, fighter jets bombed about 100 rocket launchers belonging to the pro-Iranian militia, which were equipped with about 1,000 launch tubes, the Israeli military said late on Tuesday. The rocket launchers are ready for immediate strikes Israel been prepared. Lebanese security circles spoke of one of the worst waves of Israeli attacks since the mutual bombardment began in October.
The military action raises concerns about a possible Ground offensive Israel, in the south of the neighboring country. The Jewish state wants to once again expel Hezbollah, which denies Israel’s right to exist, from the border area in order to guarantee the security of its citizens in the north.
After the heavy ones air strikes The Israeli military has urged residents of several communities and towns in northern Israel to stay close to bomb shelters. Civilians should also stay away from military training areas in the north during the weekends. The military will be carrying out “activities” there, meaning there is a risk to life for unauthorized personnel. “It is possible that gunfire and explosions will be heard in nearby towns,” the army said in a statement.
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Concern about possible ground offensive
The exact meaning of the instruction was initially unclear. There is concern in Lebanon Israel could prepare a ground offensive in the south of the country. In the event of such an operation, troops would have to be concentrated in northern Israel. The army will continue to weaken Hezbollah’s infrastructure and capabilities to defend the State of Israel, the Israeli military said. According to reports, “terrorist infrastructure” and a Hezbollah weapons depot in southern Lebanon were also attacked.
Israeli military representatives wanted prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli media reported that they would present plans for the northern front in security consultations in the evening. As The Times of Israel has learned from military circles, the army wants to ensure that the tens of thousands of residents who fled northern Israel return to their homes, without, however, expanding the conflict with Hezbollah into a regional war. Israel recently declared the return of residents to the north a war objective.
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Again killed in mutual fire
The extensive airstrikes occurred after a heavy rocket fire from Lebanon to communities in northern Israel, the Times of Israel reported. Two Israeli soldiers were killed — a 20-year-old soldier and a 43-year-old reservist, the army said. The reservist was killed in a Hezbollah drone attack packed with explosives, the Times reported, and the younger soldier was killed in a Hezbollah attack with two anti-tank missiles. Eight other soldiers were wounded, the Times said.
During the exchange of fire, a speech by the Secretary General of Hezbollah was broadcast on Lebanese television, Hassan NasrallahIn it, he referred to deadly attacks on his militia’s communications technology, accused Israel of attempted genocide and vowed retaliation. “In two days and one minute a day, Israel intended to kill more than 5,000 people,” he said. “This criminal act amounts to a declaration of war.” At least 37 people were killed in the explosions of rigged pagers and portable radios on Tuesday and Wednesday, authorities said. About 3,000 others were injured.
Hezbollah chief announces retaliation
Israel has yet to publicly acknowledge the attacks. Not only Nasrallah, but also military and intelligence experts see Israel as the mastermind behind the attacks. Explosions. “In the short term, this is an extraordinary tactical achievement,” Eyal Pinko, a former Israeli intelligence official, told the Wall Street Journal. “In the long term, it will not bring military or political success,” he said.
Nasrallah announced that he would continue the bombing of northern Israel. The “resistance in Lebanon” will not stop its attacks on Israel before “(Israeli) aggression against Gaza“has stopped,” he said in his televised address. Israel can only allow people to return to the north in safety if the war in the Gaza Strip is stopped. Hezbollah says it is acting in solidarity with the Islamist Hamas in the coastal area. Both groups are backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose leaders view Israel as an archenemy.
Report: No deal in sight in Gaza talks
Negotiations on the end of the Gaza WarThe talks, in which the US, Egypt and Qatar are mediating between Israel and Hamas, have been going around in circles for months. Senior US officials have now admitted in private conversations that they no longer expect an agreement between Israel and Hamas during US President Joe Biden’s term, which ends in January, the Wall Street Journal reported. “A deal is not imminent,” one of the US officials said. “I’m not sure it’s going to happen.”
Meanwhile, Israel wants to use military and diplomatic pressure to ensure that the bombardment of the north stops and that Hezbollah withdraws behind the Litani River, 30 kilometers from the border – as stipulated in a UN resolution. Then, some 60,000 people who had to flee to safety in the border region with Lebanon to other parts of the country will be able to return to their homes and apartments. Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant announced that Israel would continue its attacks on Hezbollah. “The series of our military actions will continue,” he said. “Over time, Hezbollah will pay an increasing price.”
The almost daily mutual bombardment has turned into a low-intensity war. According to official figures, around 600 people have already been killed in Lebanon, most of them members of Hezbollah. According to official information, 48 people have died in Israel in attacks by pro-Iranian militia, including soldiers, but also many civilians.
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