New Test Article 2
Published on: by 256420541
AAMER MADHANI, JULIA FRANKEL and BASSEM MROUE
Updated Tue, October 1, 2024 at 12:50 PM EDT ·7 min read
Israel-Lebanon Tensions
Israeli soldiers work on tanks in a staging area in northern Israel near the Israel-Lebanon border, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military reported on Tuesday that Iran has fired missiles, prompting officials to order residents to stay close to bomb shelters as air raid sirens sounded across the country. Both Israel and the United States have warned of severe consequences if Iran attacks Israel, which supports the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Alerts to shelter in place were sent to mobile phones and announced on national television.
Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that the air defense system was fully operational, capable of detecting and intercepting threats. However, he cautioned, “The defense is not hermetic.”
Iranian media began sharing videos that appeared to show missile launches across the country, though the Iranian government did not immediately acknowledge these events.
The air raid alerts followed a day of rocket and missile attacks from Lebanon, leading Israel to initiate limited ground operations against Hezbollah. Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire targeted southern Lebanese villages where residents were ordered to evacuate. In response, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets into Israel, escalating concerns of a broader regional conflict.
A senior White House official warned of “severe consequences” if Iran launches a ballistic missile at Israel, indicating that U.S. ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel if necessary. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.
Rear Adm. Hagari also warned that there would be consequences if Iran fires missiles into Israel and urged the public to stay close to shelters. “The Iranian strike could be widespread. Following Home Front Command guidelines can save lives,” he added.
Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
In April, Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel, but most projectiles failed to reach their targets, with many intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition.
While Hezbollah denied that Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, the Israeli army announced it had conducted dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon over the past year. Video footage released by Israel allegedly showed soldiers operating in homes and tunnels used by Hezbollah for weapon storage.
If verified, this would be a significant setback for Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the Middle East, which has recently suffered losses, including the deaths of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and several commanders.
On Tuesday morning, Israel warned residents to evacuate north of the Awali River, approximately 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border, significantly beyond the Litani River, which serves as a U.N.-declared buffer zone between Israel and Hezbollah after the 2006 war.
The border area has seen a steady exodus over the past year due to ongoing hostilities. However, the extensive evacuation warnings raised questions about the depth of Israel’s planned military operations in Lebanon.
An Israeli airstrike struck a residential building near Beirut, causing damage but no immediate reports of casualties, hitting an apartment approximately 100 meters from the Iranian Embassy. In anticipation of further rocket attacks from Hezbollah, the Israeli army announced new restrictions on public gatherings and closed beaches in northern and central Israel, while also calling up thousands of reserve soldiers for duty along the northern border.
Questions Raised Over Israeli Forces’ Incursion
An Associated Press reporter observed Israeli troops operating near the border in armored vehicles, with helicopters overhead, but could not confirm any ground forces had crossed into Lebanon.
Before Israel announced an incursion, U.S. officials mentioned that Israel had described small ground raids inside Lebanon as preparation for a broader operation.
Neither the Lebanese army nor U.N. peacekeepers patrolling southern Lebanon confirmed any Israeli ground incursions, with the U.N. stating that such operations would violate Lebanese sovereignty.
Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif dismissed these claims as “false,” asserting that Hezbollah is prepared for “direct confrontation with enemy forces that dare to enter Lebanon.”
Hagari stated that troops were conducting “localized ground raids” on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon to ensure Israeli citizens could safely return home.
Israel has pledged to continue its strikes on Hezbollah until it is safe for its citizens to return. Hezbollah has vowed to continue its rocket attacks into Israel until a cease-fire is established in Gaza.
Hagari noted that Israel had carried out dozens of small raids in Lebanon since October 8, when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel following the Gaza conflict’s escalation.
He indicated that Israeli forces had crossed the border to gather intelligence and destroy Hezbollah infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon caches, amidst claims that Hezbollah was preparing for an attack similar to the October 7 incident in Israel.
An Israeli military official stated that troops involved in the latest operations were operating close to the border, focused on villages just meters from Israel, without reports of clashes with Hezbollah fighters.
In previous conflicts, the Israeli military has faced accusations of misleading media regarding troop movements. A recent statement implied ground troops had entered Gaza, which the military later downplayed as a misunderstanding.
Ongoing Hostilities and Regional Implications
The Israeli military has reported that Hezbollah launched rockets at central Israel, activating air raid sirens and injuring at least one person. Hezbollah claimed to have targeted two Israeli intelligence agencies near Tel Aviv with new medium-range missiles.
In response to escalating tensions, Israel has intensified its airstrikes across Lebanon. According to Israeli officials, Hezbollah has launched retaliatory fire against Israeli troops, although there have been no reports of injuries.
Israeli military officials claimed that southern Lebanon is “swarming with Hezbollah terrorists and weapons,” emphasizing that U.N. Security Council resolutions from the 2006 war have not been enforced.
Conclusion
With fears of a wider conflict looming, Israeli officials have indicated that their military focus may remain on the narrow strip along the border rather than a full-scale invasion.
As fighting continues, the humanitarian impact is severe, with over 1,000 casualties reported in Lebanon, including many women and children, and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Hezbollah, a well-trained militia with tens of thousands of fighters and a substantial arsenal, faces increasing challenges from Israeli military operations. The group’s leadership claims to have replaced commanders lost in recent strikes.
As violence escalates, European nations are withdrawing their diplomats and citizens from Lebanon.
Mroue reported from Beirut and Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut and Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed.
Follow AP’s war coverage at AP News.