Israeli Army Chief Signals Ground Offensive In Lebanon Against Hezbollah. Biden Warns ‘All-Out War Possible’

Israel's military chief signalled soldiers to prepare for a potential ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. This came as US President Joe Biden cautioned against an "all-out war" in the Middle East.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi speaks to Israeli troops

Source : X/@manniefabian

Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, urged soldiers to be prepared for a potential ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon, amidst ongoing airstrikes and escalating violence in the region. The warning came as US President Joe Biden cautioned against an "all-out war" in the Middle East, urging for a diplomatic solution to de-escalate tensions.

"We are attacking all day, both to prepare the ground for the possibility of your entry, but also to continue striking Hezbollah," Halevi told a tank brigade, according to a statement released by the military, news agency AFP reported. Israeli warplanes have conducted hundreds of strikes across Lebanon, including targeting Hezbollah positions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised that military operations against Hezbollah would not cease until residents in the north could safely return to their homes. "We will continue to hit Hezbollah... the one who has a missile in his living room and a rocket in his home will not have a home," he declared.

The latest escalation was triggered after Hezbollah fired a ballistic missile at Israel's Mossad spy agency headquarters on the outskirts of Tel Aviv – the first such launch in almost a year of clashes, which have intensified due to the ongoing Gaza war.

Lebanon’s health minister reported that Israeli retaliatory strikes have killed 51 people and injured 223, particularly in mountainous regions outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds, an AFP report stated. Israel claimed it had hit 60 Hezbollah intelligence sites among the hundreds of the group's targets across Lebanon.

Israel-Hezbollah Conflict: US President Biden Says ‘All-Out War Is Possible’

The violence has led to increased concern from international leaders. In Washington, US President Biden warned of the growing risk of a full-scale conflict. "An all-out war is possible," Biden told ABC, but he added that there remains a "possibility" of a ceasefire in Lebanon. He emphasised that "a full-scale war is not in anyone's interest."

Despite Biden's warnings, the situation on the ground remains tense. Cross-border clashes have intensified since Monday, when Israeli raids resulted in the deaths of at least 558 people, marking the deadliest day of violence in Lebanon since the country’s 1975-1990 civil war, according to AFP. Nour Hamad, a 22-year-old student from Baalbek, described the terror her community has been living in. "We spent four or five days without sleep, not knowing if we will wake up in the morning," she said.

In Tel Aviv, residents have also faced the threat of Hezbollah’s missile attacks. "The situation is difficult. We feel the pressure and the tension... I don't think anyone in the world would like to live like this," said Hedva Fadlon, a 61-year-old resident.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called Hezbollah’s attack on Tel Aviv "deeply concerning" but expressed hope for diplomacy. "There is still time and space for a diplomatic solution here to de-escalate the tensions and to prevent an all-out war," Kirby remarked, as quoted by AFP.

UN Security Council Schedules Emergency Meeting, Guterres Warns Lebanon 'On The Brink'

The Israeli army announced it had struck over 280 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon on Wednesday, including 60 terrorist sites linked to the group’s intelligence operations. The military has also called up two reserve brigades for "operational missions in the northern arena" to ensure the continued combat against Hezbollah.

In response to the escalating crisis, the UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed alarm, warning that Lebanon was "on the brink", as per the report. The UN’s International Organisation for Migration reported that 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon this week, adding to the 111,000 who have been displaced since October.

Adding to the tensions, Hezbollah confirmed that Israel had killed its rocket forces commander, Ibrahim Kobeissi, in a strike on Beirut.

Netanyahu postponed his trip to New York, where he is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly, as Israel's operations continue. Iran, Hezbollah's primary backer, condemned the Israeli raids. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that while Hezbollah had suffered losses, the group remained resilient. "This was not the sort of damage that could bring the group to its knees," Khamenei remarked.

They’ve martyred a number of Hezbollah’s influential, valuable members. Undoubtedly, this was a loss for Hezbollah. Nevertheless, this is not a loss that will weaken Hezbollah. Hezbollah’s organizational strength and its powerful human resources are much more than this.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) September 25, 2024

The situation remains highly volatile as both sides continue to exchange strikes, with the potential for further escalation looming large.