OAN Staff James Myers
8:25am – Monday, September 30, 2024
According to reports, Israeli special forces are conducting intelligence raids in Lebanon ahead of a ground invasion expected in the coming days.
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The raids reportedly included targeting Hezbollah tunnels on the southern border as part of preparations for a broader ground offensive. Wall Street Journal.
“The Israel Defense Forces have made a lot of preparations for a ground invasion,” Amir Abibi, a former Israeli military official who is still being briefed, told the outlet. “Overall, this always involves special operations. It's part of the process.”
Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted on Monday that a ground operation against Hezbollah was imminent.
“Together with the fighters of the 188th Brigade on the northern border, our forces are ready for an armed attack on Hezbollah,” Gallant wrote in a post to X.
“Our goal is clear: to return northerners to their homes. We will do everything in our power to achieve this goal.”
Meanwhile, the group's deputy leader, Naim Qassem, said the terrorist organization is expecting a ground invasion. This was Israel's first statement since the killing of Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah last week.
“We intend to face all possibilities and if the Israelis decide to invade by land and the resistance forces are ready for a ground war,” he said in a speech from an undisclosed location. I'm ready.''
The remarks came after Israel carried out several airstrikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, extending a two-week onslaught that killed at least seven Hezbollah commanders.
However, Qasem vowed that the terrorist group was preparing for a long war and said the slain commander had already been replaced.
“Israel could not influence us.” [military] “I have the ability,” he said. “There is a second-in-command, and at any post there is a replacement in case the commander is injured.”
“What we are doing is the bare minimum… We understand that the fight may be long,” Qasem said.
Meanwhile, Israel has frequently targeted Beirut's southern suburbs over the past week, where Hezbollah has a strong presence, including a major attack on Friday that killed Nasrallah.
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