Israel Preparing For Lebanon Ground Invasion As US Warns Of 'All Out War'

Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has instructed troops to prepare for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon, amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah.

He said that ongoing airstrikes against Hezbollah are not only intended to degrade the militant group but also to pave the way for Israeli forces to "enter enemy territory" if needed.

Photo Credit: PTI

Addressing soldiers, Halevi remarked, "You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day. This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah."

The escalating violence has raised international concerns, with US President Joe Biden warning of a possible "all-out war" and emphasising the need for a settlement that could bring lasting stability to the region.

In an interview with ABC News, Biden stated, "An all-out war is possible. What I think is, also, the opportunity is still in play to have a settlement that could fundamentally change the whole region."

Simultaneously, efforts are underway at the United Nations to broker a temporary 21-day ceasefire to halt the hostilities. The White House has expressed support for this ceasefire proposal, with officials calling the situation "intolerable" and asserting that continued violence is "in nobody's interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon."

President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have held talks to promote this ceasefire, with Macron stating before the UN General Assembly, "There cannot be a war in Lebanon. This is why we urge Israel to cease this escalation in Lebanon and to Hezbollah to cease this missile launch to Israel."

The conflict has already claimed a huge human toll, with Lebanese health authorities reporting that at least 72 people were killed and 233 injured in airstrikes on Wednesday alone.

Since Israel began its intensified campaign against Hezbollah earlier in the week, more than 600 people have been killed in Lebanon, and the UN estimates that around 90,000 people have been newly displaced. These figures add to the 110,000 who had already fled their homes before the recent escalation.

Israel's strikes have been focused on key Hezbollah strongholds, including areas near the southern city of Sidon, a mountainous region north of Beirut, and north of Bekaa Valley. Israeli forces claim to have hit over 280 Hezbollah targets on Wednesday.

Hezbollah, in turn, escalated its attacks, targeting Tel Aviv for the first time, claiming that it launched a missile aimed at the headquarters of Israel's Mossad spy agency.

However, Israeli air defenses intercepted the missile, and no damage or casualties were reported. An Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, clarified that the missile was heading "towards civilian areas in Tel Aviv," and added that "the Mossad headquarters is not in that area."

Meanwhile, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon has welcomed the prospect of a ceasefire but stressed that Iran remains the central force behind the violence in the region.

Danon stated, "Peace requires dismantling the threat."

Iran, however, has shown no signs of backing down. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi voiced his country's support for Hezbollah and warned that Iran may soon abandon its restraint.

He said, "The region is on the brink of a full-scale catastrophe. If unchecked, the world will face catastrophic consequences."

The international community has expressed growing alarm at the potential for the conflict to spiral further. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a stark warning, stating, "Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon" and said that Lebanon "cannot become another Gaza."

He urged all sides to "stop the killing and destruction, tone down the rhetoric and threats, and step back from the brink."

The conflict also follows an incident last week in which Hezbollah members were killed or injured after their pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in two waves across Lebanon.

While Hezbollah claimed the explosions were caused by Israeli sabotage, no formal attribution has been made. Despite these cross-border skirmishes, both Israel and Hezbollah appear to be preparing for the possibility of a broader confrontation.

In his address, Lt. Gen. Halevi made it clear to his troops that Israel's objective is to "safely return the residents of the north" and that military maneuvers, including a ground invasion, might be necessary to achieve this.

He told the soldiers, "We keep striking and hitting them (Hezbollah) everywhere. The goal is very clear, to safely return the residents of the north. To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a maneuver, which means your military boots... will enter enemy territory."

As international leaders continue to push for a ceasefire, the situation remains tense, with both sides preparing for further escalations.