Israel Army Chief: Strikes in Lebanon Could Pave the Way for Ground Assault, Reports Reuters

By Maya Gebeily and Ari Rabinovitch

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM – Israel’s military leader stated on Wednesday that airstrikes in Lebanon would persist as they aimed to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure and pave the way for a potential ground operation by Israeli forces.

While this was being announced, sources indicated that the United States had initiated diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting in both Gaza and Lebanon, with discussions taking place at the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

President Joe Biden commented that total war could be a possibility but emphasized that efforts were still being made to achieve a settlement that could significantly transform the region.

On the same day, Israel expanded its airstrikes in Lebanon, successfully intercepting a missile that Hezbollah claimed was directed at the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency, situated near Tel Aviv.

"You can hear the jets overhead; we’ve been conducting strikes throughout the day," General Herzi Halevi informed Israeli troops stationed at the border, according to a military statement. "This is to prepare the ground for your potential entry and to continue to weaken Hezbollah."

As the death toll in Lebanon continued to rise, world leaders expressed concern about the rapid escalation of the conflict, which is occurring alongside Israel’s ongoing military actions against the Palestinian Hamas movement in Gaza, also supported by Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that Washington and its allies were diligently working to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, which has vowed to continue its actions until the hostilities in Gaza conclude.

Two Lebanese officials, two Western diplomats, and sources familiar with Hezbollah’s stance revealed that the U.S. is spearheading a new diplomatic initiative that addresses both conflicts.

CEASEFIRE PROPOSALS

Israeli sources reported that the U.S. and France are collaborating on ceasefire proposals in response to the escalating violence in Lebanon, which Hezbollah initiated to support Hamas in Gaza. However, there has yet to be any notable progress made on this front.

"The risk of escalation in the region is significant… The most effective response is through diplomacy, and our coordinated efforts are crucial to preventing further escalation," Blinken stated during a meeting with Gulf Arab officials in New York.

Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah leadership and struck numerous sites deep within Lebanon, as the group continued to launch multiple rocket attacks into Israel, causing hundreds of thousands to evacuate the bordering areas.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military announced strikes in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, a known Hezbollah stronghold, while simultaneously mobilizing additional reserve brigades for operations along the northern border.

"This will facilitate continued engagement with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, defend the State of Israel, and create conditions for the residents of northern Israel to safely return to their homes," the military noted.

In a brief video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked that Hezbollah was facing more pressure than it could have foreseen, emphasizing a commitment to help return tens of thousands of Israelis to their homes in the northern border regions.

Lebanese hospitals have seen an influx of casualties since Monday when Israeli airstrikes resulted in over 550 deaths, marking the deadliest day for Lebanon since the end of its civil war in 1990. On Wednesday alone, the Lebanese health minister reported at least 51 fatalities and over 220 injuries resulting from the strikes.

Hezbollah stated that it fired a missile at the Mossad headquarters "in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip … and in defense of Lebanon and its people." The group accused Mossad of participating in the assassination of its leaders and asserted that an explosion last week, which killed 39 individuals and injured nearly 3,000, was due to Mossad’s interference with communication devices. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in these claims.

ISRAEL DENIES MISSILE WAS TARGETING MOSSAD

Israeli authorities clarified that a "heavy missile" was actually headed for civilian areas within Tel Aviv and not for the Mossad headquarters before it was intercepted.

Since Tuesday evening, Israel has expanded its airstrikes into more regions in Lebanon, targeting areas including the beach resort of Jiyyeh, south of Beirut, and attacking locations such as Bint Jbeil, Tebnin, and Ain Qana in the south, as well as the village of Joun in the Chouf district and Maaysrah in northern Keserwan.

Lebanon’s foreign minister reported that as many as half a million people might have been displaced. In Beirut, numerous individuals seeking shelter from southern Lebanon have taken refuge in schools and public buildings.

Following overnight strikes, more than 60 residents were evacuated from the Christian town of Alma Chaab near the border. "At least two houses were completely destroyed, but fortunately, they were unoccupied, so there were no casualties," said Milad Eid, a local resident.

Authorities in Israel noted that the Galilee region in northern Israel experienced heavy rocket fire from Hezbollah on Wednesday morning.

In Safed, an assisted living facility was struck, yet there were no reported injuries, according to local authorities.

Near-daily clashes between Israel and Hezbollah at the Israel-Lebanon border escalated after the outbreak of conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza last October.