UPDATED
The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they happen.
IDF says troops launched limited ground incursion targeting Hezbollah posts along Lebanon border
The IDF announces that its forces launched a “targeted and limited” ground incursion into southern Lebanon several hours ago against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure in a number of Lebanese villages along the border that pose an immediate threat to Israeli towns on the other side of the Blue Line.
US official tells ToI: We understand Israeli desire for limited Lebanon incursion, but concerned about mission creep
A US official tells The Times of Israel that the Biden administration understands and accepts what Israel is trying to accomplish with a limited ground incursion into Lebanon.
Israeli officials have told their US counterparts that the goal of the limited operation is to remove Hezbollah positions along Israel’s northern border, creating the conditions for a diplomatic agreement under which the terror group’s forces would be pushed back beyond the Litani River, in line with UN Security Council resolution, an Israeli official says.
The US official accepts the Israeli logic but says Washington is still concerned that the IDF will get bogged down in Lebanon or be drawn to expand the mission once it’s already in motion.
The US official notes that Israel is also concerned about such mission creep.
Another US official speaking to The Times of Israel points to how Israel also framed its 1982 invasion into Lebanon as a “limited” incursion, but it turned into an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon.
State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing earlier today: “We recognize that, at times, military pressure can enable diplomacy. That’s true. It is also true that military pressure can lead to miscalculation. It can lead to unintended consequences.”
At least 6 IDF strikes hit south Beirut Hezbollah stronghold — Lebanon security source
A Lebanese security official says Israel conducted at least six strikes on south Beirut after midnight on Tuesday, after Israel’s army called on residents in the Hezbollah stronghold suburb known as the Dahiyeh to evacuate.
“Six or seven Israeli strikes hit the southern Beirut suburbs,” the official tells AFP, requesting anonymity.
Rocket sirens triggered in Upper Galilee town of Misgav Am, surrounding area
Rocket sirens have been triggered in the Upper Galilee town of Misgav Am and the surrounding area.
There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Rocket attack reportedly targets military base hosting US forces in Baghdad
At least two Katyusha rockets were fired at a military base hosting US forces near Baghdad International Airport, two Iraqi military officials tell Reuters.
Air defenses intercepted the rockets, they add.
At least 11 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike in Gaza’s Nuseirat camp, Gaza medics say
At least 11 Palestinians were killed, including women and children, in an Israeli strike on a house in Nuseirat camp in central Gaza Strip, Gaza medics tell Reuters after midnight on Tuesday.
There is no immediate comment from the IDF, which says it takes steps to avoid casualties to civilians while Hamas embeds its fighters among them.
Israeli strikes killed 95 people in Lebanon on Monday — country’s health ministry
Lebanon’s health ministry says 95 people had been killed in Israeli strikes across the country on Monday.
“Israeli enemy strikes in the past 24 hours… killed 95 people and injured 172,” the ministry says in a statement, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Hezbollah claims it targeted Israeli troop movements near Lebanese border towns
Hezbollah issues a statement after midnight on Tuesday, saying it targeted Israeli troop movements across from Lebanese border towns.
There have been no confirmed reports, though, that Israel has launched its much-anticipated ground operation, and the IDF has yet to comment on the matter.
Three rockets fired from Lebanon toward Shtula, all land in open areas — report
Three rockets were launched from Lebanon toward Shtula a short while ago, setting off sirens in the border community, Hebrew media reports.
The rockets all landed in open areas, the reports add.
Security cabinet said to OK war’s next phase; ministers slam US leaks about ground op
Hebrew media reports say that the security cabinet has approved the next phase of the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, presumably the much-touted ground offensive.
The Ynet news site reports that during the discussion, some ministers decried leaks about the operation from American officials after they were updated by Israel.
After warning, Israeli strikes reported on Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh in Beirut
After the IDF warned civilians to flee three Hezbollah sites in Beirut’s southern suburb, known as Dahiyeh, Lebanese media report Israeli strikes in the area.
Huge consecutive blasts were heard across the Lebanese capital, Reuters witnesses say.
A massive smoke cloud can be seen in a Reuters live broadcast.
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