BEIRUT: After the
US verified that Israel is conducting limited military operations inside
Lebanon, Lebanese troops evacuated from the border late on Monday night,
increasing the threat of an impending ground attack by Israel.
Hezbollah and Iran
had earlier reacted strongly to Tel Aviv's threats of a ground invasion of
Lebanon, with Tehran promising to punish any “criminal acts” committed by
Israel and the former promising to carry on fighting.
The group's deputy
head, Naim Qassem, declared in a televised speech that a new leader would be
chosen "at the earliest opportunity" to succeed Hassan Nasrallah and
that the group was prepared to confront any Israeli attack. Additionally, the
US State Department stated that Israel is "currently conducting"
limited ground operations inside Lebanon to hit Hezbollah
The Israeli military gave a warning to evacuate late on Monday night to
residents living in three southern Beirut districts in preparation of an
impending attack on likely Hezbollah targets in the organization's stronghold.
"Ongoing
artillery shelling" on Wazzani, the neighbouring Marjayoun plain, and
Khiam had been reported by the state-run National News Agency of Lebanon
"for more than two hours."
The head of
Hezbollah and a deputy commander of the Iranian Guard were killed in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani declared that Iran would not
tolerate any of "the criminal acts" of Israel.
Along with
Nasrallah and other key Hezbollah members, Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan
was murdered on Friday in Israeli bombings on Beirut.
Israel's stepped-up attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen
have raised concerns that the war in the Middle East may spiral out of control
and trap Iran and the US, Israel's biggest backer.
At a weekly news
conference, Kanaani announced, "We stand firmly and we will act in a way
that is regretful [for the enemy]," stressing that while Iran does not
seek out war, it is also not afraid of it.
"Israel can
reach any region of the Middle East." Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu
delivered a stern warning to Iran on Monday, saying there was no location in
the Middle East beyond Israel’s reach amid a spate of strikes against Hezbollah
in Lebanon.
Netanyahu told the Iranian people that their government had been pushing them
"closer to the disaster" in his address to them.Netanyahu stated
"The regime is dragging you, the noble Persian people, closer to the abyss
with every passing moment."
The prime minister
went on to say, "There is nowhere in the Middle East that Israel cannot
reach," warning the Iranian people that their dictatorship has pushed
their region towards war and darkness. Netanyahu’s remarks came hours after
Iran’s foreign ministry representative said the country had no plans to send
troops to battle Israel.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran doesn't require to send further or volunteer
forces," stated Kanaani, pointing out that troops in the Palestinian
territories and Lebanon are strong enough to overcome the attack.
Demand
de-escalating Meanwhile, world leaders have demanded a de-escalation. During
their meeting in Beirut on Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot
declared his country was seeking "an urgent halt, in the strikes."
Barrot prompted to Israel formerly again not to essay an
irruption on the ground of Lebanon, stating that France would boost
its backing for the Lebanese forces. I(
unnamed) prompted Israel to declare an
end to warfare and to stay down from any ground
irruptions.
Barrot told journalists," I call on Hezbollah to
take likewise along with avoid from any action that leading to
globalde-stabilization." He's the
first high- position foreign representative
to visit since the Israeli attacks
boosted. The position of
Israeli colors indicated that an assault
on the ground would be soon to be, a US functionary told Reuters on
Monday. still, US President Joe
Biden prompted a check- fire and made it clear that he opposes
Israeli combat opinions in Lebanon
You may not realise how aware I am, but I'm okay with them quitting. When asked
if he was aware of allegations of Israeli plans for a limited operation and if
he was okay with one moving forward, Biden told reporters, "We should have
a ceasefire now."
Amid concerns of a
possible escalation in the Israel-Lebanon war, British Foreign Minister David
Lammy reiterated appeals for an immediate ceasefire. On Monday, he spoke by
phone with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the issue.- Agencies
