Israel, launches first land incursions into Lebanon

“We asked that Israel’s operations be limited and aimed only at military objectives, avoiding involving the population, already severely tested, and the Unifil contingent,” Crosetto said. “I am in constant contact with the commander of the national contingent, with the chief of the Defense Staff, with the operational commander of the Joint Forces Summit. I also maintained constant contact with the Israeli and Lebanese sides. We all hope that reason will prevail and an already dramatic conflict will not extend further.” And again: “For months, as the Italian Government, we have represented in every forum that it would be necessary to give effective and immediate implementation to UN resolution 1701 (which provides for a band of territory south of the Litani and north of the Blue Line in which only the weapons of the Lebanese Armed Forces and Unifi are present) also by modifying the rules of engagement which had not given the desired results”.

Hezbollah says it targeted some Israeli troops moving around Lebanese border towns.

Columns of smoke in Beirut. Intense raids in the south of the capital. Seven buildings destroyed.

The Israeli Security Cabinet has approved the next phase of the war against Hezbollah in Lebanonpresumably the ground offensive. He reports it Ynetaccording to which during the meeting some ministers denounced leaks about the operation by American officials, after they had been updated by Israel.

“In the last few hours there has been a lot of news and rumors about IDF activity on the Lebanese border. We ask that no news about the forces’ activities be disclosed. Stick only to official reports and do not spread irresponsible rumors.” So on X the spokesman of the Israeli Defense Forces Daniel Hagari.

According to the Lebanese news agency, clashes are indeed underway in some areas of southern Lebanon but Israeli troops have not yet crossed the border en masse. “I only see the glare of bullets falling in places far from my city,” said Najib al-Amil, the priest from the city of Rmeish.

According to Beirut security sources, who spoke to Dpa, for now the Israeli tanks have not approached the Blue line that divides Israel from Lebanon. Instead, there were massive air raids near the Litani river, about thirty kilometers north of the border.

According to Israeli television, while the tanks proceed on the ground, the Israeli air force is hitting Hezbollah positions in the border village of Wazzani, near Ghajar.

“The goal of Israel is to push Hezbollah beyond the border of the blue zone which should be neutral. With the aim of ensuring the safety of civilians living in Northern Israel. The military operations on the ground will continue, I think, only to push Hezbollah back,” Tajani says live on Fourth Republic.

Does it make sense to have UNIFIL soldiers there without them being able to operate? “They guaranteed peace for many years and that there were no clashes between Israelis and Hezbollah,” replies Tajani. “We have decided to propose to the UN to strengthen the role of the two contingents and also give them a diplomatic role between the Israelis and Hezbollah”.

“The Italian soldiers,” adds the minister, “at the moment remain in Lebanon. Instead, we have reduced the number of soldiers in the contingent that trains the Lebanese troops, only the soldiers necessary to keep the barracks up and running remain.”

Then a hope: “The election of the new president of Lebanon could be the right interlocutor to negotiate a ceasefire and achieve peace”

“The ground operation that Nethanyahu is preparing in Lebanon it is a further blow to international law. An attack on the sovereignty of an autonomous and independent state. It must be strongly condemned by the entire international community. Double standards are not acceptable.” PD deputy Arturo Scotto writes it on X.

According to the Times of Israel, Lebanese troops withdrew from positions along the border by about 5km, thus abandoning observation posts. The army is now in the barracks of the border villages.

Israel has in fact declared a “closed military zone” around three cities in the far north, on the border with Lebanon: Misgav Am, Kfar Galadi and Metula. The army, an official said, is “repositioning and regrouping forces” on the southern border following threats of an Israeli incursion.

“The UN General Assembly should quickly apply the authority to recommend the use of force, as it did with the 1950 Union for Peace resolution, if the Security Council is unable to show the will necessary,” Erdogan said in a televised speech. The reference is to resolution 377: in the event of failure to reach agreement within the Council, the Assembly may recommend to its members the use of force to maintain or restore peace. “Israel’s attacks will eventually reach everyone’s doors. They will also target those who witness the massacre from afar,” Erdogan said. “Israel’s banditry can no longer be ignored. Muslims must give the strongest response to this oppression. If we are not the first to support our brothers and sisters, we cannot expect others to help them.” And again: “The needs of our Lebanese brothers and sisters are increasing due to continued Israeli attacks.”

The Israeli government informed the US about “a series of operations”, including some by land, in Lebanon. He said it the US State Department on CNN. “At the moment they have told us that it is limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the borderbut we are in continuous contact with them about this,” the spokesperson said Matthew Miller. A few hours ago, Biden said he was worried about the direction the conflict could take and returned to calling for a ceasefire. The administration is working on a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah. Miller reiterated that Israel has the “right to defend itself from Hezbollah,” including by “targeting terrorist infrastructure within the Lebanon“. “Military pressure can sometimes enable diplomacy,” Miller explained. “Of course, military pressure can also lead to miscalculations. It can lead to unintended consequences. We are discussing all these factors with Israel.”

Israeli tank fire and artillery fire in the south of Lebanon. Haaretz reports it. The Lebanese media speak of tank bombings along the border villages.