Israel Lebanon newest information: Israeli army ‘ready’ to invade as strikes on Hezbollah kill 492 in sooner or later | EUROtoday

The president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, accused the Israeli embassy in Dublin of circulating a letter he wrote to Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, after Mr Pezeshkian’s election.

The letter, which supplied congratulations and expressed condolences over the demise of Mr Pezeshkian’s predecessor, drew criticism — each within the UK and Ireland — as soon as it grew to become public. “You should ask where the criticism came from and how the letter was circulated and by whom and for what purpose,” Mr Higgins mentioned.

He prompt the Israeli embassy was answerable for circulating it, one thing the embassy denied, calling his accusation “baseless” and “highly inflammatory and potentially slanderous”.

His letter to Mr Pezeshkian talked about that Iran had a “crucial role” to play within the Middle East after Ebrahim Raisi’s demise in a helicopter crash in May.

“I regret of course the circumstances that brought about the election, and take the opportunity to repeat the condolences of the people of Ireland for the death of your predecessor President Raisi,” the letter learn.

Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly contemplating a plan to evacuate Palestinian civilians from northern Gaza and impose a army siege on Hamas militants who stay within the space.

The plan, endorsed by some Israeli army figures, suggests designating the world as a “closed military zone” and forcing all civilians to go away, The Guardian reported.

The Likud MP Avichai Boaron mentioned the plan was ‘‘currently being evaluated by the government”.

“According to the plan, the IDF will evacuate all the civilians who are in the north of Gaza, from the border to the Gaza River,” Boaron was quoted as saying by the outlet. ‘‘And after they will evacuate, the IDF will assume that only the terrorists will remain. When the civilian population has left, you can find and kill all the terrorists without harming the civilians.”

The goal is said to be to isolate and target Hamas fighters without civilian casualties, pressuring them to surrender or face starvation.

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that the Israeli Defense Forces are fully prepared for a ground invasion of Lebanon if necessary.

While reiterating that Israel is “not looking for wars”, Hagari emphasised that the army will take all necessary steps to secure the northern border and ensure the safe return of citizens.

“The army is in full readiness, and we will do whatever is necessary to bring back home all our citizens to the northern border safely,” he said during a televised press conference.

Meanwhile, the death toll from Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Monday rose to 492 people, including 90 women and children. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister condemned the assaults as “genocide in every sense of the word”.

Hagari defended the IDF’s actions, saying efforts are made to keep away from civilian casualties, whereas additionally highlighting that a lot of these killed have been Hezbollah militants. The IDF claimed to have hit 1,300 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon inside the previous 24 hours.

Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, accused Israel of upsetting struggle within the Middle East throughout his first official go to to the US.

“We know more than anyone else that if a larger war were to erupt in the Middle East, it will not benefit anyone throughout the world. It is Israel that seeks to create this wider conflict,” he mentioned.

He expressed frustration over Israel’s actions, particularly the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

“There is no winner in warfare, everyone loses in war and conflict. We are only deluding ourselves if we think someone will be victorious in a regional war.”

He added: “Every day Israel is committing more atrocities and killing more and more people – old, young, men, women, children, hospitals, other facilities.”

Mr Pezeshkian additionally criticised the West for its double requirements on human rights and reaffirmed Iran’s dedication to nuclear talks, denying any missile provides to Russia throughout his presidency.

“We are prepared, and if the other parties are also prepared, we can have another beginning of the talks during this trip,” he mentioned.

He additionally dismissed claims that Iran funds anti-Israel protests.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despatched a video message to the individuals of Lebanon urging them to heed IDF warnings and evacuate their properties after airstrikes killed 274. He mentioned: “I have a message for the people of Lebanon: Israel’s war is not with you. It’s with Hezbollah. For too long, Hezbollah has been using you as human shields.

“It placed rockets in your living rooms and missiles in your garage. Those rockets and missiles are aimed directly at our cities, directly at our citizens.

“To defend our people against Hezbollah strikes, we must take out those weapons.

“Starting this morning, the IDF has warned you to get out of harm’s way.

“I urge you – take this warning seriously. Don’t let Hezbollah endanger your lives and the lives of your loved ones. Don’t let Hezbollah endanger Lebanon.

“Please, get out of harm’s way now.

“Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes.”

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon resulted in 492 deaths on Monday, together with 90 girls and kids, within the deadliest assault because the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah struggle.

Israel says its strikes are concentrating on Hezbollah, which has launched 1000’s of rockets into Israel.

Israel warned Lebanese civilians to evacuate, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging them to “get out of harm’s way”.

He requested residents to “take this warning seriously”.“Please get out of harm’s way now,” Mr Netanyahu mentioned. “Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes.”

Israel’s army spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, mentioned the military will do “whatever is necessary” to push Hezbollah from Lebanon’s border with Israel.

Rear Admiral Hagari claimed Monday’s widespread airstrikes had inflicted heavy injury on Hezbollah.

But he wouldn’t give a timeline for the continuing operation and mentioned Israel was ready to launch a floor invasion of Lebanon if wanted.

“We are not looking for wars. We are looking to take down the threats,” he mentioned. “We will do whatever is necessary to do to achieve this mission. We hope to do it as shortly as we can.”

Rear Admiral Hagari mentioned Hezbollah has launched some 9,000 rockets and drones into Israel since final October, together with 250 on Monday alone.

Hamas’ armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, mentioned that its discipline commander in southern Lebanon, Mahmoud al Nader, was killed in an Israeli strike on Lebanon on Monday.

Israel is bombing targets throughout many components of Lebanon, hanging senior militants in Beirut and apparently hiding bombs in pagers and walkie-talkies. Hezbollah is firing rockets and drones deep into northern Israel, setting buildings and automobiles alight.

But nobody is asking it a struggle — not but.

Israeli officers say they aren’t looking for struggle with Hezbollah and that it may be prevented if the militant group halts its assaults and backs away from the border. Hezbollah additionally says it doesn’t desire a struggle however is ready for one — and that it’s going to sustain the strikes on Israel that it started within the wake of ally Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault till there’s a cease-fire in Gaza.

Israel and Hezbollah have repeatedly traded hearth since then — however the depth rose to a different degree Monday, when Israeli airstrikes killed greater than 350 individuals, in accordance with Lebanese officers. That would make it the deadliest day in Lebanon since Israel and Hezbollah final went to struggle in 2006.

“If someone had told me or most analysts in summer 2023 that Hezbollah is striking Israeli bases in Israel, and Israel is striking southern Lebanon and parts of southern Beirut, I would have said, OK, that’s an all-out war,” mentioned Andreas Krieg, a army analyst at King’s College London.

The time period hasn’t but been utilized to the present battle as a result of “there haven’t been any boots on the ground,” however that is perhaps “the wrong metric,” he added.