Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Kfarkila near the border with Israel on October 2, 2024. (Photo by AFP) Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images
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What We Know About Iran’s Missile Attack on Israel
A man and a dog check the rubble of a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack, in Hod HaSharon, Israel on Oct. 2, 2024. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
On Tuesday night, Iran launched hundreds of missiles towards Israel, with at least some hitting the Jewish state’s territory, in the second such attack by the Islamic Republic this year.
Israel’s military has said that the attacks now appeared to have abated and there was no further threat from Iran for now. The full extent of the damage caused by the overnight barrage is still not known. The Israeli military has said it is not aware of any deaths due to the attacks.
Here is what is known so far.
Why Was The Attack Launched?
Recent days have seen Israel launch a wave of airstrikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon and what it described as limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated on Wednesday that British forces had supported Israel in response to Iran’s missile attack, without revealing specific military actions.
Britain's Ministry of Defence later clarified that the UK's involvement was limited to refueling operations.
"Last night (1 October), two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, demonstrating the UK's unwavering commitment to Israel's security,” the defense ministry said on the social media platform X. "Due to the nature of this attack, they did not engage any targets, but they played an important part in wider deterrence and efforts to prevent further escalation."
IDF Confirms 1st Soldier Killed in Lebanon Ground Operation
Terrorist group Hezbollah fired 40 rockets into northern Israel on Wednesday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The IDF said that numerous suspicious aerial targets were intercepted and several fell in the area in and around the western Galilee area at the Israeli border near Lebanon.
Israeli forces said that, over the past few hours, the air force has continued to strike Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, terrorists, observation posts, and terror infrastructure sites in several locations along southern Lebanon.
What We Know About Iran’s Missile Attack on Israel
A man and a dog check the rubble of a destroyed building in the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack, in Hod HaSharon, Israel on Oct. 2, 2024. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
On Tuesday night, Iran launched hundreds of missiles towards Israel, with at least some hitting the Jewish state’s territory, in the second such attack by the Islamic Republic this year.
Israel’s military has said that the attacks now appeared to have abated and there was no further threat from Iran for now. The full extent of the damage caused by the overnight barrage is still not known. The Israeli military has said it is not aware of any deaths due to the attacks.
Here is what is known so far.
Why Was The Attack Launched?
Recent days have seen Israel launch a wave of airstrikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon and what it described as limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon.
How Israel Defended Itself Against Iran’s Missile Attacks
Israeli military forces fire rockets from the Iron Dome defense system to intercept rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, near Sderot, on May 13, 2023. Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images
Iran fired 181 long-range ballistic missiles at Israel on Oct. 1, with each missile capable of killing dozens in a single strike. But, according to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, after the millions of Israelis emerged from the air raid shelters where they had hunkered down, he was not aware of a single reported casualty.
How? The answer lies in Israel’s multi-layered missile defense system, built with the assistance of the United States.
Tim Ripley, a military analyst and editor of the Defence Eye website, said Israel’s different missile defense systems come under the umbrella of a single structure.
Israel Bars UN Secretary-General From Entering Country
Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz has barred UN Secretary-General António Guterres from entering the country.
In an Oct. 2 statement on social media platform X, Katz declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres “persona non grata” in Israel, accusing him of being biased against the country.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel, as almost every country in the world has done, does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” Katz said.
Iran's Supreme Leader Gives First Remarks Since Missile Attack on Israel
In his first remarks since Iran's missile attack on Israel, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, posting on X on Wednesday morning, blamed the West for the military conflict while stating that he had “met with a number of the academic elite and people with outstanding scientific talent.”
In a subsequent post, Khamenei blamed the "United States and some European countries" for the ongoing conflict in the region.
IDF Issues Evacuation Warning to Lebanese Civilians in Southern Villages
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued an evacuation order for civilians in Southern Lebanon, ordering residents from 24 villages to leave their homes immediately.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it has stepped up ground operations in Southern Lebanon against Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah's activities force the IDF to act against it forcefully,” an IDF spokesman posted on social media platform X on Wednesday. "The IDF does not intend to harm you, so for your own safety you must evacuate your homes immediately and head north of the Awali River. Save your lives."
UK Forces Supported Israel in Response to Iran Attacks
On Wednesday in a statement posted on X by the UK's Ministry of Defence, Defence Secretary John Healey said that British forces supported Israel in response to the Iranian missile attack.
“I completely condemn Iran’s attack against Israel,” Healey said.
“British forces have this evening played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East,” he added.
President Joe Biden said the United States is “fully supportive” of Israel following Tuesday's Iranian missile attack.
Biden said the United States is “still assessing the impact” of the attack, which he said “appears to have been defeated and ineffective” thanks to the U.S. and Israeli militaries and advanced planning by both sides.
“Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel,” Biden said at the White House.
Harris Backs Biden’s Decision to Intercept Iranian Missiles, Condemns Attack
Vice President Kamala Harris said she monitored the Iranian missile attack from the Situation Room alongside President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
Harris stood by the president’s order for U.S. military forces to assist in shooting down the Iranian missiles, just as they had in April.
“I condemn this attack unequivocally,” she said. “I'm clear-eyed, Iran is a destabilizing dangerous force in the Middle East, and today's attack on Israel only further demonstrates that fact.”
Netanyahu: Iran Will Pay for ‘Big Mistake’ Attacking Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran “made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it.”
“The regime in Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves and our determination to retaliate against our enemies,” Netanyahu said during a meeting with his security cabinet, according to a video released on his X page.
“Sinwar and Deif didn't understand this. Nasrallah and Mohsen didn't understand this,” he said, referring to leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, respectively, who were killed by Israel. “And there are probably those in Tehran who don't understand this.”
Pentagon: Iran Launched Almost Twice as Many Ballistic Missiles as April Attack
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Iranian forces launched about twice as many ballistic missiles toward Israel on Tuesday as the regime did during their April 13 attack.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assessed the April 13 barrage consisted of about 120 older ballistic missile models, more than 30 slower-moving cruise missiles, and around 170 one-way attack drones.
By comparison, the IDF has so far estimated that 181 ballistic missiles were fired toward Israel on Tuesday.
Trump Says Iran Was Bankrupt Before Biden Took Office
Iran was cash-starved four years ago but has been enriched under the Biden–Harris administration, former President Donald Trump said on Oct. 1.
“Iran was on the verge of bankruptcy,” Trump told rallygoers at a manufacturing plant in Waunakee, Wisconsin. “They had no money for Hamas. They had no money for Hezbollah.”
Now, Trump said, “Iran has been exporting terror all over the world, and it's been just unraveling.”
House GOP leadership—Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.)—called the Iranian missile attack on Israel brazen.
“Iran is again brazenly attacking Israel with a barrage of rocket fire and an apparent coordinated terrorist attack. The world is watching as Israeli families seek safety and shelter as waves of missile attacks light up the sky,” they said in a statement.
They called on the Biden administration “to deliver a strong message to the Iranian regime that this unjustified violence and terror must end.”
The Israeli military suggested that it will retaliate against Iran for its missile attack against the Jewish state, but did not say when or how it would do so.
"We proved our ability to prevent the enemy from achieving, by combining exemplary civil behavior and a very strong air defense system,” said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi after assessing the situation.
“We will choose when to collect the price, and prove our precise and surprising attack capabilities, in accordance with the guidance of the political echelon,” Halevi said in a statement issued by IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced the Iranian missile attack on Israel Tuesday as “totally unacceptable” and said “the entire world should condemn it.”
Blinken estimated Iran fired around 200 missiles toward Israel, but that Israel, the United States, and other regional partners “effectively defeated this attack.”
Israel said earlier that 181 missiles were fired.
US Working With Airlines to Offer More Flights Out of Lebanon
The United States has been working with airlines “to provide additional flights with more seats for American citizens" looking to leave Lebanon, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
Miller said the United States is “not evacuating American citizens from Lebanon at this time.”
“We have directed U.S. citizens who are in Lebanon to register with the State Department for information, and especially for information with how to depart Lebanon,” said Miller.
EU Condemns Iranian Attack, Calls for Regional Cease-Fire
The European Union condemned Tuesday's Iranian missile attack on Israel and called for a cease-fire in the Middle East.
“The EU condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s attack against Israel,” Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, posted on X.
“The dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks to [spiraling] out of control. An immediate cease-fire across the region is needed," Borrell said.
Iran Claims It Used New Hypersonic Missile in Barrage
Iranian media claimed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the U.S. recognizes as a terrorist organization, launched a new variant of hypersonic missile at Israel during its attack.
The group deployed the “Fattah-2” for the first time ever, state media said. The missile was developed last year, and was designed to penetrate air defense systems like Israel's Iron Dome, media reported.
A spokesperson for the Pentagon could not confirm the veracity of Iran's claims and noted that the vast majority of missiles launched by Iran were successfully intercepted by Israeli and U.S. forces.
US Will Not Commit to Action Against Iran: Pentagon
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that the United States could retaliate against Iran but declined to comment on whether the United States was prepared to strike Iranian territory.
Ryder said that the U.S. military remains committed to its defense and that of Israel and that it is not clear whether Israel intends to attack Iranian territory.
"Should U.S. forces be targeted by Iran or its proxies we'll take necessary steps to defend our people," he said.
State Department: US Had No Warning by Iran of Attack
The United States did not receive a warning from Iran ahead of the regime’s missile attack against Israel, according to the State Department.
"We had no kind of warning from the government of Iran that they were going to launch such an attack," said department spokesperson Matthew Miller during a press briefing.
Pentagon: US Intercepted Missiles Headed to Israel
The U.S. military assisted Israel in intercepting some of the nearly 200 missiles launched from Iran towards Israel, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at the Department of Defense.
The destroyers USS Bulkeley and USS Cole launched approximately a dozen interceptors in defense of Israel, he said, but declined to state the type of munitions used.
Israeli Strike Kills Hezbollah Commander in Beirut
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it assassinated Hezbollah commander Dhu al-Faqar Hinawi in an airstrike in Beirut earlier Tuesday.
Hinawi commanded Hezbollah's Imam Husayn Division which, according to the IDF, moved into the region of southern Lebanon since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks on Israel. Hinawi also previously served as a chief engineer for Hezbollah.
"The division plays a significant role in combat and has carried out many terror attacks from Lebanese, Syrian, and Iraqi territory, including firing numerous anti-tank missiles, UAVs, and rockets towards communities in northern Israel," the IDF statement said.
Iraqi Militias Threaten to Attack US Bases if Israel Uses Iraqi Airspace to Attack Iran
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a network of pro-Iranian Shia Islamist militias, threatened to target U.S. military bases inside Iraq if U.S. forces assist in any military action against Iran, or if Israeli forces direct attacks on Iran through Iraqi airspace.
“All American bases and interests in Iraq and the region will be our target,” the IRI said on Tuesday evening.
Iran-backed militias in Iraq regularly target bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria with drones, saying they’re retaliating for Washington’s support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Palestinian Killed in West Bank From Projectile During Iranian Attack
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed reports of a Palestinian being killed in the West Bank town of Jerricho from a projectile during Iran’s missile attack on Israel. It is unclear what the projectile was.
Sullivan expressed the Biden administration’s condolences to “the family of the Palestinian civilian in Jerricho.”
Israel reported no casualties so far from the Iranian strikes.
White House: Iranian Attack Was ‘Defeated and Ineffective’
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan briefed reporters about the ongoing Iranian attack against Israel. He noted that the strikes seem to have been unsuccessful based on current information.
“In short, based on what we know at this point, this attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective," Sullivan said.
"We are still working with the IDF and the authorities in Israel to assess the impact of the attack.”
Israeli Military Says It Killed Hezbollah Weapons Supplier Mohammed Jaafar Qassir Katzir
Israel’s military says it killed Muhammad Jaafar Katzir in an airstrike in Beirut on Tuesday evening. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Katzir was a senior Hezbollah operative responsible for importing Iranian weapons into Lebanon.
The IDF said Katzir led Hezbollah Unit 4400 and assisted in developing the terror group’s missile forces for about 15 years. Katzir later became a financier for Hezbollah, flowing hundreds of millions to the designated terrorist group in recent years, according to the IDF.
IDF Reports Some Iranian Missiles Impacted Central, Southern Israel
Following the Iranian missile barrage, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari reported that Israeli air defense systems “carried out quite a few interceptions,” but said a few areas of central and southern Israel were struck.
Hagari said the IDF is still evaluating the situation but is not aware of any casualties from the Iranian attack.
Six People Dead in Tel Aviv-Jaffa Terrorist Attack
Two terrorists killed six people and injured two others in an attack in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, according to Israel police.
The attack occurred shortly before Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel and a day after Israel began a ground operation in Lebanon amid fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Israel will respond to the Iranian missile attack, said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
"We will protect the citizens of Israel. This attack will have consequences. We have plans. We will act at the time and place of our choosing," said IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari in a statement.
Iran launched 181 missiles at Israel, according to the Jewish state.
The information was included in an X post directed at U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after he commented on the conflict.
“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire,” Guterres posted on X.
Iran’s missile attacks on Israel are over, at least for now, according to the regime’s mission to the United Nations.
“Iran’s legal, rational, and legitimate response to the terrorist acts of the Zionist regime—which involved targeting Iranian nationals and interests and infringing upon the national sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran—has been duly carried out,” the regime posted on X.
Iran warned that it will respond to any Israeli retaliation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has given the all-clear for civilians to leave their shelter following Iranian missile attacks on the Jewish state.
“At the end of the situation assessment, it was decided that it is now possible to leave the protected area in all areas of the country,” said the IDF in a statement.
“You must continue to obey the directives of the Home Front Command.”
Biden Orders US Military Aid Israel in Shooting Down Iranian Missiles
The White House said that President Joe Biden has ordered the U.S. military to shoot down any missiles targeting Israel.
Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are “monitoring the Iranian attack against Israel from the White House Situation Room,” National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett wrote on X.
The president “directed the U.S. military to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks & shoot down missiles targeting Israel,” Savett said.
Israeli law enforcement said in a statement on Tuesday, “At this point there is another scene in the Herzliya area with a fear of terrorists in the Sharon Hotel. Large police forces are combing the area.”
The development comes less than an hour after two men launched an attack in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, where four civilians were confirmed dead. A picture shared with The Epoch Times shows two men leaving a tram with what appears to be machine guns.
The enhanced police activity is occurring as Iran launches a missile attack against Israel.
Iran Claims Responsibility for Missile Attacks, Says It's Response to Haniyeh, Nasrallah Killings
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), issued a statement through Iranian state media on Tuesday, claiming responsibility for the missile barrages targeting Israel.
The IRGC said the missile strikes are in retaliation for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, and the Israeli air strike that killed Hezbollah political leader Hassan Nasrallah last week.
Though no one claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s death in a July 31 blast, Iran and Hamas had both concluded Israel was behind the killing, and Iran vowed to respond.
Iran launched at least 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, which the regime said was in retaliation to the killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Most of the missiles intercepted but few areas of central and southern Israel were struck, officials said. U.S. destroyers in the region helped Israel intercept some of the missiles, the Pentagon said.
Iran Launches Missiles at Israel, Israeli Military Says
Israeli civilians entered bomb shelters on Oct. 1 as the Israeli military reported incoming missile fire from Iran.
“A short time ago, missiles were launched from Iran towards the State of Israel,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari said in a Tuesday statement. “You are asked to remain vigilant and follow the Home Front Command’s instructions precisely.”
Hagari said Israeli air defense capabilities were actively engaging the incoming Iranian munitions, but warned the defense network is not airtight and urged civilians to follow safety advisories from the Israeli military’s Home Front Command.
“You may hear explosions, which could be the result of interceptions or impacts,” he said. “Due to the variety of threats, alarms may be triggered in widespread areas.”
The Israeli military issued the alert just hours after a senior White House official warned Iran was preparing to “imminently” launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel.
“The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel,” the official said in an email to The Epoch Times.
“We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack. A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran.”
Israeli forces had reported launching cross-border ground raids into Lebanon in the early morning hours of Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday that the Biden administration is watching the situation between Israel and the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon “very closely.”
Blinken did not directly address the reported Iranian missile threat during the brief remarks ahead of talks with the visiting foreign minister of Morocco.
“The United States is committed to Israel’s defense,” he said. “We’re watching developments, as I said, very carefully at this moment.”
The Israeli military’s Home Front Command issued new safety advisories on Tuesday, ordering schools near the northern border to remain closed and telling residents to limit their public gatherings. The command said northern Israeli residents could go to their places of work so long as they could quickly reach a bomb shelter.
Israel’s Home Front Command said residents in and around Haifa, and further south into central Israel, could hold slightly larger public gatherings. Educational activities could also proceed in areas close to bomb shelters.
Addressing Israeli citizens on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the intensified military actions around the Israel–Lebanon border as a moment of “great achievements and great challenges.”
Netanyahu urged Israelis to closely follow the Home Front Command’s instructions.
“Together we will stand steadfast in the trying days ahead of us,” he said. “Together we will stand. Together we will fight and together we will win.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) mobilized four additional brigades on Tuesday to be deployed in missions along the Lebanese border.
"This will enable the continuation of operational activity against the Hezbollah terrorist organization and the achievement of operational goals, including the safe return of the residents of northern Israel to their homes," the IDF said in a statement.
The statement did not provide details about the new brigades being called up, but a typical Israeli infantry brigade consists of 1,000 to 2,000 soldiers, while an armored tank brigade numbers about 100 tanks.
Israel announced new restrictions on public gatherings across the country, including in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and closed beaches after Hezbollah fired rockets at the country.
The announcement limits public gatherings to 30 people in an open area. It came a day before the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, when large crowds typically gather to pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The changes are in effect until Oct. 5 and could be extended to the point that they could impact memorial events planned to honor victims of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which sparked the current conflict.
International Reaction to Israeli Ground Incursion Is Mixed
The reaction around the world to Israel’s incursion into Lebanon has been mixed.
While some nations have reacted with cautious support for the Jewish state’s actions, others have labeled it a “dangerous escalation” and “illegal.”
Turkey called it an “unlawful invasion attempt” and demanded an immediate cessation of the offensive and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, saying it jeopardizes the security and stability of countries in and out of the region.
Israel Continues Lebanon Ground Operation After Iranian Missile Attack
Smoke billows from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Kfarkila near the border with Israel on October 2, 2024. (Photo by AFP) Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images
UK Defence Secretary John Healey stated on Wednesday that British forces had supported Israel in response to Iran’s missile attack, without revealing specific military actions.
Britain's Ministry of Defence later clarified that the UK's involvement was limited to refueling operations.
"Last night (1 October), two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets and a Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, demonstrating the UK's unwavering commitment to Israel's security,” the defense ministry said on the social media platform X. "Due to the nature of this attack, they did not engage any targets, but they played an important part in wider deterrence and efforts to prevent further escalation."
IDF Confirms 1st Soldier Killed in Lebanon Ground Operation
Terrorist group Hezbollah fired 40 rockets into northern Israel on Wednesday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The IDF said that numerous suspicious aerial targets were intercepted and several fell in the area in and around the western Galilee area at the Israeli border near Lebanon.
Israeli forces said that, over the past few hours, the air force has continued to strike Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, terrorists, observation posts, and terror infrastructure sites in several locations along southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah Says No Israeli Troops Have Entered Lebanon
Hezbollah has claimed that no Israeli troops have crossed the Lebanese border, contradicting statements from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
The head of the terrorist group's media office, Mohammad Afif, said that no IDF troops have entered the country, and warned that the group's strikes on Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning were "only the beginning."
Earlier, Hezbollah said it launched "Fadi-4" rockets at the headquarters of Israeli intelligence services Mossad and Unit 8200, which are located in the Tel Aviv area.
The Israel Defense Forces has ordered the evacuation of nearly two dozen Lebanese border communities.
The evacuation order was posted by the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson on X and specified about two dozen settlements in southern Lebanon, ordering people to move north of the Awali River, nearly 40 miles from the border.
That is farther than the Litani River, about 20 miles from the Israel–Lebanon border, which marks the northern edge of a U.N.-declared zone that was intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after the 2006 war.
The U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) says that the Israeli military notified it the day before of its “intention to undertake limited ground incursions into Lebanon” and labeled the act a “dangerous development.”
The UNIFIL statement did not say if Israeli forces were actually observed crossing the border, however, it did say peacekeepers were in position and “have contingency plans ready to activate if absolutely necessary,” it said.
“Any crossing into Lebanon is in violation of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a violation of resolution 1701,” it said, referring to the U.N. resolution that put an end to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
IDF: Parts of Southern Lebanon Witnessing 'Intense Fighting'
The Israeli military has said parts of southern Lebanon are witnessing “intense fighting."
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted on X on Tuesday morning that people should not drive into the area south of the Litani River, which has dozens of towns and villages close to the Jewish state's border.
Hezbollah has not yet commented on the ground invasion, but, on Monday, acting leader, Naim Kassem, said the group would fight any Israeli troops attempting to occupy parts of Lebanon.
US National Security Council Says 'Limited Operations' Within Israel's Right to Self-Defense
The US National Security Council (NSC) said Israel’s “limited operations” to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure in Lebanon were in line with its right to defend itself.
However, the NSC warned that expansion of the operation was a risk and that a diplomatic solution was the only way to achieve lasting stability.
"This is in line with Israel’s right to defend its citizens and safely return civilians to their homes. We support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah and all Iranian-backed terror groups. Of course, we know that mission creep can be a risk, and we will keep discussing that with the Israelis,” the NSC said.
IDF Says Troops Crossed into Lebanon
Israeli ground forces crossed into southern Lebanon on Sept. 30, in what may be the opening phases of an Israeli invasion of the country.
“In accordance with the decision of the political echelon, a few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a press statement early on Oct. 1.
The IDF said planning and training for the “methodical operation” has been ongoing for months.
Dubbed Operation “Northern Arrows,” the IDF said it’s targeting Hezbollah targets close to Israel’s northern border that “pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”
“The IDF is continuing to operate to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes.”
The reported operations come as Israel has been signaling an escalating fight with Hezbollah; a Shia Muslim political and paramilitary faction within Lebanon designated as a terrorist group by the United States and Israel.
Lebanon’s state-backed National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli artillery strikes in Marjeyoun, southern Lebanon, and further Israeli airstrikes on the southern Wazzani and Khiyam communities. NNA said a Lebanese army soldier was killed in the Wazzani strikes.
The Israel Defense Forces issued evacuation advisories for civilians in several areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut earlier on Sept. 30, warning that the IDF would soon target those areas.
The United States confirmed it was aware of limited Israeli military ground operations inside Lebanon’s border earlier on Sept. 30.
Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs after a strike, amid ongoing hostilities between the Hezbollah terrorist group and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon, on Oct. 1, 2024. Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters
The Wall Street Journal first reported on Sept. 30, based on anonymous sources, that Israeli special operations forces launched a limited operation inside a tunnel system on the Lebanese side of the border.
“I’ve seen reports about ground operations,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Sept. 30. “We’ve had some conversations with [Israeli officials] about that. They have, at this time, told us that those are limited operations.”
Miller provided few additional details about the Israeli operations, stating the “limited operations” have focused on “Hezbollahinfrastructureneartheborder.”
Israeli forces have been fighting with Hezbollah in a cross-border skirmish for nearly a year.
Last week, IDF chief of staff Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi advised IDF ground forces to prepare for the possibility of a ground operation against Hezbollah.
On Sept. 25, the Biden administration joined with Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, Qatar, and the European Union in a joint statement urging a cease-fire in accordance with existing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which outlines a demilitarized zone along the Israel–Lebanon border. The parties to the joint statement urged an immediate 21-day cooling-off period in the growing cross-border conflict to allow time for a diplomatic solution to emerge.
Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated the cease-fire push in a separate bilateral joint statement on Sept. 25.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed the cease-fire calls, saying he hadn’t responded to the joint U.S.–French message and calling for the IDF to “continue fighting with full force” because Hezbollah had been in violation but with no consequence since Oct. 8, 2023, and that Israel has no option but to defend its residents from its attacks.
Israeli aircraft continued to fly sorties over the weekend, targeting several Hezbollah leaders, including the Lebanese faction’s political leader, Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah was killed in a Sept. 27 airstrike.
“Israel may be now launching a limited operation into Lebanon, are you aware of that? Are you comfortable with their plans?” a reporter asked President Joe Biden at a White House press event on Sept. 30.
“I’m more aware than you might know,” Biden replied, “and I’m comfortable with them stopping. We should have a cease-fire now.”
On Sept. 30, the Israeli military announced a closed military zone around the Israeli border communities of Metula, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi, and barred civilian entry in those areas. The IDF said this area would remain closed until at least Oct. 6.
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