In a report published by “The Economist” on Sunday, September 22, 2024, military sources revealed that Israel is planning a ground offensive aimed at seizing a buffer zone a few miles deep along the Lebanese border.
The magazine quoted an Israeli reserve officer, familiar with the strategic details concerning Lebanon, who said, “The plans for a ground invasion are ready, but we have yet to gather enough troops here to execute those plans.”
The sources added that Israel’s more cautious generals, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, support the current gradual military escalation strategy. This approach, they hope, will give Hezbollah room to reconsider its stance and pull back before the war in Gaza ends.
According to the magazine, despite Israel’s preparations and the recent escalation following the bombing of communication devices in Lebanon, a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah is not yet imminent. Hezbollah, however, could begin using long-range missiles to strike deep into central Israel and launch attacks on Israeli territories if full-scale hostilities break out.
Since last Thursday, the Israeli occupation army has launched at least three waves of attacks, targeting what it claims are Hezbollah missile launch platforms.
On Saturday, the occupation army decided to close airspace in northern regions for 24 hours due to heightened security tensions following the assassination of Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil and other leaders. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that the death toll from the Israeli airstrike has risen to 45, as search operations through the rubble continue.
On Sunday, Hezbollah fired heavy salvos of rockets, used for the first time, targeting wide areas in the Lower Galilee and east of Haifa. They also announced strikes on Israel’s “Ramat David” airbase and military industrial complexes belonging to the Rafael company. In response, the Israeli occupation army intensified its airstrikes on southern Lebanon, capping off a week of severe devastation for the Lebanese people amidst widespread suffering.
The conflict between Hezbollah and Israel escalated following the bombing of communication devices across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in 37 deaths and more than 3,250 injuries. An Israeli airstrike on Friday hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, killing 45 people, including women, children, and prominent Hezbollah leader Ibrahim Aqil. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported 68 injuries, although the numbers are still not final.
Since October 8, 2023, Lebanese and Palestinian factions in Lebanon, primarily Hezbollah, have been exchanging daily fire with the Israeli army across the “Blue Line” demarcation, leading to hundreds of casualties, mostly on the Lebanese side.
The factions demand an end to the war that Israel, with American support, has waged on Gaza since October 7. The war has caused over 137,000 Palestinian casualties, the majority of whom are children and women, with more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and a deadly famine.
