Israel enters Lebanon for “limited” attacks, a refugee camp hit. The Italian soldiers on alert 2 remain in the bunkers

John

By John

Israeli troops entered Lebanon, covered by air strikes. At the moment for a “limited” operation aimed at destroying Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. The US State Department officially announced the IDF step forward that everyone was expecting after Israel informed Washington of its intentions. Shortly afterwards the Lebanese media, including Al Manar TV close to the Party of God, reported artillery shelling near the border villages of Wazzani, Khiyam, Alma el Chaab and Naqura.

‘Israel strikes Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon’

Israel struck a building in the Ain El-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon. The Times of Israel reports it, citing Reuters. The camp is the largest of the Palestinian camps in the country. According to rumors, Israel was targeting Mounir Maqdah, commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah.

Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet. The prime minister, Israeli media reported, was subsequently in a restricted meeting in his office in the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson meanwhile asked residents to leave their homes in the area controlled by Hezbollah in southern Beirut with a message on social media.

The killing of Hassan Nasrallah “is an important step, but it will not be the last”the next move in the war against Hezbollah “will begin soon”, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had warned shortly before, while signs of an “imminent operation” multiplied on the ground. In the evening the IDF declared a “military zone closed” the areas on the border of Metula, Misgav Am and Kfar Giladi, while on the other side of the Blue Line the UNIFIL peacekeepers, among whom there are a thousand Italians, were “forced” to stop patrolling activities, as announced by the United Nations. Beirut’s regular army left its positions near the southern border, retreating 5 km.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has assured its American ally that it will be a “more contained” action than initially expected (and that of 2006), intended to eliminate the threat of Hezbollah which continues to launch rockets and missiles towards northern Israel. In Washington, however, the idea of ​​Netanyahu’s troops in Lebanon, even for a limited operation, does not seem to have been welcomed well. “I’m aware but I would like them to stop,” President Joe Biden had said just a few hours earlier, relaunching an appeal for a ceasefire. The Pentagon has decided to send a few thousand troops to the Middle East, mostly fighter planes, to strengthen the security of American forces in the area. Even France – with the new Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visiting Beirut to meet Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the other leaders of the State – had invited Israel “to refrain from any land incursion” and to cease hostilities, and “Hezbollah to do the same”, recalling that the Franco-American proposal launched at the UN for a 21-day truce “is still on the table”. But, Barrot warned, “there is little time left.”

The land operation has in fact been prepared for some time: according to Israeli sources cited by the Wall Street Journal and NBC News, the IDF special forces have already conducted, both recently and in recent months, lightning actions in Lebanese territoryuntil entering the tunnels along the border, with the aim of gathering information on Hezbollah’s positions and capabilities in view of a ground attack.

Orphan of Nasrallah and grappling with the succession of the leader and the delicate organization of his funeral, Hezbollah meanwhile showed off confidence: “We are ready to come to blows with Israeli soldiers if they were to invade Lebanon”, warned the party’s number two of God, Naim Qassem, assuring that «Israel will not succeed in achieving its objectives». Iran has also sworn revenge: «The blood of the martyr Nasrallah will accelerate the fall of the Israeli regime and its leaders», threatened General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Islamic Republic. But the ayatollah regime – for months put to the test by more or less direct actions by Israel without however significant counterattacks – has already anticipated that it will not send its soldiers to Lebanon or to Gaza: «The nations of the region, as well as the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, have sufficient strength and capacity to defend themselves”, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani, denying at the same time that Tehran is the maneuverer of the Shiite militias in the area, from Hezbollah in Lebanon, to Iraq, to ​​Yemen with the Houthis, who after Sunday’s air raids on Hodeida announced that they wanted to intensify their attacks against Israel.

Netanyahu to Iranians: “You will be free”

It is precisely to Iranian civilians that Netanyahu addressed in an unusual video message “to the noble Persian people”, promising them that the country will be “free sooner than people think” and that on that day “our two ancient peoples, the the Jewish people and the Persian people will finally be at peace.” “At every moment, the regime brings you closer to the abyss”, added the Israeli prime minister, assuring once again that “there is no place in the Middle East that Israel cannot reach”.

Meanwhile, IDF jets continue to pound the Land of the Cedarsno longer just in southern Lebanon or on the outskirts of Beirut, a stronghold of the Shiite militiamen: in the night between Sunday and Monday a raid hit the center of the capital for the first time since 8 October, destroying two floors of a building in the neighborhood of Kola e killing – the army claimed – the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Nadal Abdel-Alel, together with two other leaders of the formation. The leader of Hamas in Lebanon, Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin, was killed in an attack in the south.

US: Israel’s operations are in line with its right to defense

The “limited operations to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure that could be used to threaten Israeli citizens” are “in line with Israel’s right to defend its citizens and return civilians to their homes safely.” This was stated by a spokesperson for the American National Security Council, quoted by the US media. “We know that expanding the mission may be a risk and we will continue to discuss it with the Israelis. And ultimately, a diplomatic resolution is the only way to achieve lasting stability and security along the Israel-Lebanon border,” he added.

Unifil Italia soldiers on alert 2, remain in the base

The Italian soldiers of the UNIFIL UN mission in Lebanon are on ‘alarm 2’, meaning movements outside the base are limited to a minimum. According to what we understand, the soldiers are on alert inside the base but entry into the bunkers would not have been necessary at the moment. The procedure took place at the disposal of the military authorities of the Unifil Command.

Tajani, “fighting in progress, Italians away from Lebanon”

“The situation is extremely complicated, there is fighting going on, for maximum guarantee it is best for Italian citizens to leave Lebanon.” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said this to Tg2 Post. The deputy prime minister mentioned in particular the areas in the south of the country and the capital Beirut. Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani today participated via videoconference in an extraordinary meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers focused on the latest developments in the Middle East. This was reported in a note from the Farnesina according to which regarding the presence of Italian and European citizens in Lebanon, the minister informed his colleagues of the fact that many Italians have already left the country but that the government is ready to provide any assistance in the event of evacuation urgently, and suggested coordinating efforts at EU level for the protection of all citizens of the Union who may find themselves in difficulty.

Meloni: ‘Dramatic situation in Lebanon, civil priorities and Unifil’

“I am closely following the dramatic situation in Lebanon in constant contact with the Defense and Foreign Ministers. The protection of civilians remains the priority as well as guaranteeing the safety of the soldiers of the Italian Unifil contingent present in the south” of the country. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared this in a note. “Italy will continue to work with its allies for the stabilization of the border between Israel and Lebanon and the return of displaced people to their homes. A regional de-escalation is urgent and necessary and Italy will continue to do its part also as President of the G7”.

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Crosetto: ‘Reason prevails, Israel does not involve Unifil’

“I am personally following, moment by moment, the evolution of the situation in Southern Lebanon where, in the last few hours, we have witnessed a further intensification of the clashes. I am in constant contact with the commander of the national contingent, with the Chief of Staff of Defense, with the joint operational commander. I have 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. We have asked that Israel’s operations be limited and aimed only at military objectives, avoiding involving the population, already severely tested, and the Unifil contingent”. Thus the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto. “The Italian military personnel in Lebanon have reached protected positions and are currently in bunkers as a precaution. Unifil is not a direct target of the attacks, but it must not be overlooked that the increase in the level and intensity of the clashes makes the situation delicate I have kept and will keep the Presidency of the Republic, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and my colleague Tajani informed of further developments.