Israel Weekly New Roundup, Sep. 27 2024
Israel at War - Day 357
Drastic Escalation Between Israel and Hizbollah, the Lebanese Islamic Organization
This week Israel took a leap towards a full scale war with Lebanon. Here are some highlights from the ground:
The Biden administration is doing all it can to avoid a full scale war in the region and have the parties agree to a diplomatic agreement. The USA and France are trying to negotiate for the parties to agree to a ceasefire for three weeks during which there will be an international effort to reach a diplomatic agreement between Israel and Lebanon, that will enable Israeli citizens to return to their homes in northern Israel, which they were evacuated from in early October 2023. Both countries intend that the diplomatic agreement will include the end of the war in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The last round of escalation started last week with hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkie devices exploding in the hands of Hizbollah members. Later Israel used targeted killing methodology and managed to kill at least fifteen senior Hizbollah operators and decision makers in Beirut, Lebanon. Israeli intelligence obtained key information about a planned meeting of fifteen top operators of the Islamic Lebanese organization, Hizbollah. According to Israeli sources they were planning the next steps of their violent conflict with Israel. Israeli forces managed to kill all fifteen of them. Â
Hizbollah retaliated with a intense missile barrage aimed at Israeli towns and villages in northern parts of the country, later expanding the range of targets within the country.
Israel’s army escalated its military response and executed airstrikes deep inside Lebanon, especially targeting Hizbollah locations in the capital, Beirut.
Israel declared a state of emergency in the northern part of the country, where many were instructed to stay near shelters and safe places, all schools and kindergartens were closed, children were moved to remote online classes, and many businesses, theatres, public spaces and offices did not open. This emergency situation continues which exacts a heavy toll on the economy.
Most international airlines cancelled their service to and from Israel at least until early next week.
Meanwhile the Israeli Iron Dome system managed to prevent casualties and some of the damage, by shooting down Hizbollah missiles before they hit any targets. Â
On Wednesday early morning Tel Aviv residents were sent to shelters, when the alarms went off, due to a missile that targeted a military base near the city. This was the first time that Hizbollah targeted Tel Aviv. The missile was intercepted by the Iron Dome system.
In Southern Lebanon thousands of people are fleeing from the war and making their way to northern Lebanon. The main roads are full with long convoys of cars of people who are looking for shelters. Some of them received text messages from the IDF to evacuate their villages and towns.
On Wednesday afternoon the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) issued tens of thousands of draft orders, calling people to military reserve service. Later the chief of staff and the PM announced that Israel may start a ground operation in Lebanon.
In addition, President Biden sent additional naval vessels to the region to provide Israeli with a support system, if and when it needs it.
Late Wednesday night PM Netanyahu traveled to NYC to deliver his annual speech to the UN assembly. There was a debate as to whether he should go while there is tension and an escalation of violence in northern Israel. In the end he decided to go, saying that it is important for the status of Israel in the international communitythat he appear at the UN.
