The invasion of Lebanon by Israeli forces has begun. The Israeli army's first objective is to destroy Hezbollah positions near the border. The IDF today declared a "prohibited military zone" area near the border with Lebanon. The U.S. Department of Defense said it will send a few thousand more troops to the Middle East.
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According to reports, the invasion of Lebanon by Israeli forces began on three fronts, namely from the areas of Metula, Misgav Am and Kfar Giladi. Israeli sources said the initial goal of the ground operation was to destroy Hezbollah positions near the border.
Earlier, Israel's northern border was highly mobile as Israeli reservists arrived at concentration points ahead of the ground operation in Lebanon.
In Kiryat Smonah, an Israeli border town, at least 24 military Humvees were seen carrying troops in full combat equipment, including night vision goggles. Dozens of logistics trucks, some armored, also arrived at the northern border with Lebanon.
It was preceded by a report in the Washington Post, which said that Israel's ground operation was a matter of hours as the US leadership had been informed of the development.
The same report, citing a U.S. official, said the Israelis were going to carry out a limited intervention and focus on destroying Hezbollah rocket launchers and weapons and other infrastructure, and then withdrawing forces.
The Israeli campaign in Lebanon will be smaller than its last war against Hezbollah in 2006 and will focus on destroying the group's militant infrastructure along the border to eliminate the threat to Israeli border communities, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
It said the Israelis would carry out limited raids on some villages along the border, the Israeli military said on Monday morning.
Israel has informed the United States that it is "currently" conducting limited-scale ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, a State Department spokesman said on Monday.
"So they informed us that they are currently conducting limited scale ground operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure near the border," Matthew Miller said.
Asked by reporters if he could confirm that these were "limited scale" ground operations, the State Department spokesman said: "That's what we understand."
Meanwhile, Lebanese media are reporting heavy Israeli shelling towards the border village of Wazzani.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) today designated a "no-go military zone" area near the border with Lebanon. As shown on a map released today, the area includes the communities of Metulah, Misgav Am and Kfar Giladi, in northern Israel.
The imposition of this measure bears the signature of the head of the IDF Northern Command, Ori Gordin.
"The Israeli military clarifies that entry into this area is strictly prohibited," Major General Gordin said.
This is a development that reinforces reports of an imminent ground operation by the Israeli armed forces against Hezbollah on Lebanese soil.
The Lebanese army was seen withdrawing from several positions on the southern border with Israel, local residents and a security source told Reuters.
A Lebanese military spokesman did not confirm or deny these reports.
Israel has informed the U.S. that it is planning a limited-scale ground operation in Lebanon that can begin immediately, a U.S. official told the Washinghton Post earlier.
Israel's planned operation would be smaller in scale than Israel's last war against Hezbollah in 2006, he said.
The operation will focus on clearing military infrastructure along the border to eliminate the threat to Israeli border communities, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Israel has informed the United States of a number of operations, the State Department said on Monday, adding that reports of ground operations had been discussed and Israel had told Washington that for now these were limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the Lebanese border.
"We have been informed about a number of operations, I have seen reports of ground operations. We had some discussions with them about this. Right now we were told that these are limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border. But we're in ongoing discussions with them about that," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
"The United States continues to support a ceasefire in Lebanon, but at the same time military pressure may at times strengthen diplomacy," the State Department added, sending forces to the Middle East.
The U.S. Department of Defense said it will send a few thousand more troops to the Middle East. In a statement, the Pentagon said it aimed to "strengthen security and be prepared to defend Israel if necessary."
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters that forces sent to the Middle East would come from multiple squadrons of warplanes.
Additional personnel will include squadrons of F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16, A-10 and F-22 fighter jets and the personnel needed to support them. These jets would normally go to the Middle East to replace the squadrons already there. But they will now join the same force and double U.S. air power in the region.
