Israeli official accuses U.S. of endangering lives of IDF troops after plans for ‘targeted’ ground invasion of Lebanon were ‘outed’
A senior Israeli official has accused the US of endangering IDF forces by leaking information about their planned ground invasion of Lebanon.
As reported by The times of Israel, an unnamed official called the leaks “dangerous” and added that “this was done despite the US supporting the operation, but it’s clear the US is concerned – which is why they went public with the operation to to try to limit it’.
The comments come amid reports that ministers in Israel’s political security cabinet became frustrated that news of their planned invasion was leaked when an unnamed US security official confirmed to several news media yesterday that a ‘limited’ invasion of Lebanon would take place .
In addition, spokesman Matthew Miller said at a US State Department briefing on Monday that Israel had “told us that these are limited operations targeting Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.”
President Joe Biden also told reporters yesterday that he was “more aware than you may know,” before adding, “We should have a ceasefire now.”
Israeli ministers are reportedly frustrated over leaked reports of an invasion of Lebanon by the US and the IDF
A photo taken from northern Israel, along the border with southern Lebanon, on September 30, 2024 shows a fire following an Israeli bombardment of an area in southern Lebanon
A man looks at the destruction today at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike on the Ruwais neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs
It comes as the IDF last night confirmed a “targeted and demarcated ground operation in southern Lebanon” against “terrorist targets and infrastructures of the terrorist organization Hezbollah.”
Spokesman Daniel Hagari added that the villages Israel is targeting are “close to the border, which pose an immediate and real threat to Israeli settlements.”
The long-awaited ground invasion of Lebanon came after a day of rising tensions in the war-torn region.
The raid, dubbed “Operation Northern Arrows” by the IDF, will continue “according to the situation assessment and in parallel with the fighting in Gaza and other areas.”
The ground assault, which comes almost a year after the October 7 Hamas attacks, was given the green light after hundreds of Israeli tanks gathered at the border, with foot soldiers also supported by the IDF’s intensified airstrikes.
Dramatic images showed a barrage of rockets and bombs lighting up the sky, while artillery fire could be heard in a number of villages close to the Israel-Lebanon border.
The deployment of boots on the ground represents a significant escalation in Israel’s war against Hezbollah, whose leadership has been wiped out by a series of recent airstrikes.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah hit back this morning by sending a barrage of rockets into northern Israel.
It comes as the Pentagon last night confirmed that thousands of US troops had been deployed to the region amid fears that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon could escalate into an all-out regional war.
The Biden administration hopes to prevent the situation from spiraling into a broader war that could potentially draw in American troops, and has urged Israel to keep its incursion limited in scope.
Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in the city of Khiyam, southeastern Lebanon
Israeli soldiers work on tanks at a staging area in northern Israel, near the Israel-Lebanon border, October 1, 2024
Smoke seeps from construction rubble at the site of a nighttime Israeli airstrike on the Laylaki neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburbs on October 1, 2024
Residents inspect damage after a nighttime Israeli airstrike on the Ain al-Helweh camp for Palestinian refugees on the outskirts of the southern port city of Sidon early October 1, 2024
Israeli army tanks maneuver at a staging area in northern Israel, near the Israel-Lebanon border
Israel bombed Lebanon from the air and on foot last night as an incursion began
The US has also warned that Iran will face “severe consequences” if it attacks Israel.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Monday evening that the US “supports Israel’s right to defend itself.”
“We agreed on the need to dismantle the attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hezbollah cannot carry out October 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities,” he wrote on X.
He added that “I reiterated the dire consequences for Iran if Iran chooses to launch a direct military strike against Israel,” Austin said.
On Sunday, Austin warned that “if Iran, its partners, or its allies use this moment to attack American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take all necessary measures to defend our people.”
Ahead of last night’s raid, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued his own warning to Iran, which supports Hezbollah and Hamas.
“There is no place in the Middle East that Israel cannot reach,” Netanyahu said, just days after an airstrike south of Beirut killed Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s longtime leader.
The group’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, said its fighters are “ready for war” and prepared to continue fighting for a long time if necessary.