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Israel is set to begin ground operations in Lebanon amid ongoing brutal aerial bombardment

Israel is set to begin ground operations in Lebanon amid ongoing brutal aerial bombardment

A major Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon appeared imminent late Monday evening as reports emerged that isolated special operations missions were already underway. Highlighting US imperialism’s central involvement in the escalating region-wide war, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington was in “continuous conversation” with the Israeli military about its invasion, while public broadcaster Kan referred to “intense coordination” between Israel and Israel US on how to deal with Iranian attack.

Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Reuters reported late Monday that Lebanese army units were seen leaving positions on the Lebanese-Israel border and retreating 5 kilometers into Lebanese territory. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the creation of a “closed military zone” covering several northern communities along the border, emphasizing that entry to the area is prohibited. The official said The times of Israel that one goal of the operation would be to eliminate Hezbollah positions along the border. At a meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet on Monday, a decision was made to continue the operation.

Heavy shelling and airstrikes targeted several locations along the border. The IDF ordered residents of Dahiyeh, a southern Beirut suburb and traditional Hezbollah stronghold, to leave their homes. According to Lebanese news agency NNA, major explosions were heard shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning and at least eight strikes took place, destroying several apartment buildings.

The invasion of southern Lebanon follows a weekend of unbridled violence by the Zionist regime, including the massacre of hundreds of civilians in airstrikes across the country. On Friday, the targeted assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah killed approximately 300 civilians when six multi-story buildings collapsed in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Israeli attacks reportedly killed 136 people in the 24 hours since Monday. The intense bombing, which included an initial strike in central Beirut on Sunday evening, forced around 100,000 people to flee to neighboring Syria, where a fratricidal conflict fueled by US imperialism has been ongoing for more than a decade.

On Sunday, Israel also attacked the ports of Hodeidah and Ras Issa in Yemen, about 2,000 kilometers from its border. Six people were killed and 57 injured in the strikes, which targeted power plants and facilities used by the Houthis to import oil.

Although Hezbollah continued to fire rockets into northern Israel, the continued attacks over the past two weeks appear to have severely weakened its capabilities. Brussels-based military analyst Elijah Magnier told Al Jazeera that Israel struck at least 3,000 to 3,500 Hezbollah missile units. “Thousands of Hezbollah operatives lost their hands or eyesight and were evacuated to hospitals in Syria and Iran. Therefore, these fighters are out of the equation and can no longer participate in any potential war,” he added, referring to the consequences of the Israeli terrorist attack on September 17, when hundreds of communications devices exploded. In addition to Nasrallah, several dozen top Hezbollah commanders were murdered.