RIGHT NOW: Ready for an invasion - worried about a long war

Israel

Details: Ground invasion of Lebanon shortly

Oskar Forsberg

Updated 18.19 | Published 6:00 p.m

Israel is planning an attack on Lebanon with ground troops.

According to American and Israeli media, the invasion is imminent.

However, it will be smaller than the attack against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006, according to information.

Quick version

•  Israel is planning a ground operation in Lebanon to knock out Hezbollah's military infrastructure, Israeli sources told the Washington Post.
• Raids against strategic locations near the border are already underway and special forces have carried out smaller attacks in southern Lebanon.
• The US administration, including President Joe Biden, is expressing concern that the conflict could escalate and lead to a protracted war; this is now being discussed with Israeli leaders.

Israel has indicated to the US that it is planning a limited ground operation in Lebanon.

The invasion will begin shortly, says a source to the Washington Post.

According to the Washington Post, the goal is to knock out Hezbollah's military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

“Israel has plans for a limited operation that is imminent. The Americans are informed. There will not be a new Gaza," says an Israeli source with insight into the planning.

Photo: Atef Safadi / EPA

Beirut on Friday night. Photo: Hussein Malla / AP

Raids at the border

It will be about raids on villages and settlements near the border, where it is suspected that Hezbollah has weapons that could threaten Israelis on the other side of the border.

During the day today, minor attacks have already been carried out in southern Lebanon.

Special forces are said to have carried out attacks against various strategically important locations, according to the Jerusalem Post and the Wall Street Journal.

The attacks by the units are seen as a clear indication that a larger attack is imminent.

Biden worried

Joe Biden and his administration are reportedly concerned that the ongoing conflict against Hezbollah will grow larger and become a long war.

They will discuss this concern with the Israelis.

Hassan Nasrallah. Photo: Hussein Malla / AP

Israel killed Hezbollah's longtime leader Hasan Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut on Friday. Israeli strikes have also killed at least six of Nasrallah's top commanders and officials in the past 10 days.

However, there seems to be a difference of opinion within the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) as to how much of a blow it has really dealt to Hezbollah.

According to the Jerusalem Post, several top figures within the IDF have claimed that Hezbollah suffered very large losses, while others have called the actions "hubris" and warned that the terrorist group still has great capacity.

In the last 24 hours, 136 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the authorities.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut must have been in the basement of the building that was bombed on Friday. Photo: Hussein Malla / AP