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.
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.
Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours have killed 55 people and injured 156 others in Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
The strikes were part of Israel’s offensive into Lebanon amid fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.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.
The United States confirmed it was aware of limited Israeli military ground operations inside Lebanon’s border earlier on Sept. 30.
Israeli forces have been fighting with Hezbollah in a cross-border skirmish for nearly a year.
“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.”
By Ryan Morgan