Israel launched a ground operation in Lebanon - media
Sources from the publication stated that Israeli tanks entered the village of Rmeish in southern Lebanon. Prior to this, electricity was cut off in the area. Tanks were also seen in other border areas in southern Lebanon.
Israel reportedly starts a limited ground invasion of Lebanon to decisively finish off #Hezbollah. Seemingly Lebanese army starts retreat from forward posting due to the Israeli ground invasion. #IraniansStandWithIsrael #Lebanon #Israel pic.twitter.com/VkOl8PomnC
— Ganesh (@me_ganesh14) September 30, 2024
According to Reuters, the Lebanese army has retreated 5 kilometers from the Israeli border.
This is Israeli first invasion of Lebanon since 2006, during the second war with Hezbollah.
On Monday, the Israeli army declared the creation of a "closed military zone" in certain parts of Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Entry into this area is prohibited.
The National News Agency of Lebanon reported "intense artillery shelling of the town of Wazzani." Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV channel reported artillery strikes around several border towns.
Since Monday, areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, up to the southern suburbs of Beirut, have been subjected to heavy and unprecedented Israeli shelling.
Later, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) made a statement, announcing that on the night of October 1, Israel began "limited, localized, and targeted raids" against Hezbollah positions in the border area of southern Lebanon.
The operation, named "Northern Arrows," will continue based on the assessment of the current situation and will run in parallel with the fighting in the Gaza Strip and other areas, the IDF emphasized.
Israel also launched airstrikes on the Syrian capital, Damascus, at dawn, resulting in three deaths and nine injuries, according to Al Hadath TV.
Syria's official TV channel, SANA, reported that one of their TV presenters was killed in the attack.
SANA also reported on Tuesday that Syrian air defenses intercepted “hostile targets” in the vicinity of Damascus three times in a row.
مشاهد لآثار الغارة التي استهدفت عمارة سكنية في حي المزة بـ #دمشق #العربية #سوريا pic.twitter.com/Rp74RsoDEr
— العربية (@AlArabiya) October 1, 2024
Explosions were also heard in the suburbs of Damascus. On Sunday, Israel attacked the location of the Syrian army's 4th Division, led by Major General Maher al-Assad, the Brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, one of the key figures in the Iranian wing in Syria and is closely associated with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
According to Syrian media, Maher al-Assad received a warning that he would become Israel's next target if he transfers weapons to Lebanon.
As part of the expansion of the Israeli operation, the Israeli army launched a raid on Sunday at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing with Lebanon, which is the official crossing point between the countries.
Earlier, The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing a ground operation against the Lebanese radical group Hezbollah. This was announced on September 25 by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.