Israel Preparing for Possible Limited Ground Invasion of South Lebanon
The Facts
Multiple media reports on Monday claimed that Israel is preparing for a possible ground invasion of South Lebanon that could begin in the coming days or hours. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday that "next phase of the war against Hezbollah will begin soon."
Hezbollah’s deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem delivered a speech on Monday saying that despite the killing of much of its leadership — including the group's leader Hassan Nasrallah — was ready for an Israeli ground incursion, vowing to continue fighting.
The Spin
Though the situation in the region continues to escalate, the US has stood firm in its role as a mediator. Israel has every right to respond to Hezbollah's daily terror attacks along its northern border. However, it is in no one's interest for tensions to explode into a wider regional war. The US will continue to work toward regional stability.
Israel has been incredibly patient regarding the situation in the north, but, after a year of daily terror attacks on Israeli civilians, Israel has been forced to deal with Hezbollah more aggressively. Indeed, Friday's strike on Nasrallah demonstrates that Israel has established new "rules of engagement" that will prove to Hezbollah that its hubris has led to its destruction. Israel wants peace more than anyone, but it cannot allow Hezbollah and other Iran-backed terror groups to threaten its society in such an existential way.
Israel has escalated the situation in the region every chance it has gotten, with the US supporting it every step of the way. Indeed, Israel may expand its genocidal campaign that began in Gaza to Lebanon. Though the US, the most powerful country in the world, has continued its charade that it wants de-escalation, the reality is the US fully supports Israel's crimes across the region. Hamas and Hezbollah may be weakened, but resistance to Israel's expansionist project is inevitable.
Hezbollah and Lebanon have experienced immense suffering for supporting Palestine against Israel's genocidal actions, yet the group will continue its noble fight. Hezbollah opened a support front with Israel to stand in solidarity with Gaza which has faced a genocidal Israeli campaign. Its attacks will end when Israel withdraws from Gaza. Nonetheless, Hezbollah is ready and able to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression.