Israel is preparing for an imminent ground invasion of southern Lebanon, which will focus on villages close to the border, two Israeli officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Just days after killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Israel is set to launch a dangerous new phase of its escalating conflict with the militant group by undertaking its first ground invasion of Lebanon since 2006.
Behind the scenes: The White House believes it has reached understandings with Israel that the scope of the Israeli ground invasion will be limited to border areas in southern Lebanon, two sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.
- One of the sources said the White House was concerned over the weekend that Israel was preparing a major ground invasion, and raised those concerns with the Israelis.
- During 48 hours of high-level conversations between U.S. and Israeli officials, the Israelis assured the White House that the plan is more narrowly targeted, focused on clearing out Hezbollah infrastructure near the Israeli border and then pulling IDF forces back, the source said.
- The Biden administration does not expect an invasion on the scale of the 2006 Lebanon War, the source added.
- The source said that the White House believes it has influence on the Israeli military planning. However, a senior Israeli official stressed to Axios that plans for Israel's operation were limited in scope in the first place.
- But White House officials told their Israeli counterparts they're concerned that — as in previous wars in Lebanon — what starts as a time-limited and geographically limited operation slides into something larger and longer-term, the source said.
Driving the news: Over the last three weeks, the IDF has moved many infantry and tank units from Gaza to the northern border and mobilized several reserve brigades.
- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant alluded to the possibility of an imminent ground invasion in a meeting with soldiers in a tank unit on the border on Monday.
- "The elimination of Nasrallah is an important step, but it is not the final one. In order to ensure the return of Israel's northern communities, we will employ all of our capabilities, and this includes you," Gallant said.
- In a meeting with the heads of municipalities which are located on the northern border, Gallant said "the next phase in the war against Hezbollah will begin soon and it will be a significant factor in changing the security situation and will allow us to return the residents to their homes."
State of play: The Israeli security cabinet convened on Monday to discuss the ground invasion, Israeli officials said.
- State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller didn't express opposition to a possible limited ground operation in a briefing with reporters on Monday and said while the U.S. still supports a ceasefire, "military pressure can at times enable diplomacy."
- Over 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah over the past two weeks.
7 comments:
Scott, any idea on how this current Middle East situation will play out? Sometimes I feel like we’re close to departing, and then I get depressed when I feel like the rapture will not happen in my lifetime. I look at Hal Lindsey. He in wrote “The Late Great Planet Earth” in 1970. I bet he thinks/thought that he would see The Rapture. He is 94 years old. I sorta doubt that he will. Sometimes I wonder if we’re fooling ourselves about The Lord taking us soon.
Good question - it looks like Ezekiel 38 is getting closer by the minute, especially with the Russia-Iran alliance so strong and growing moreso by the day....Im looking for how Israel comes out of this living 'securely' so the situation aligns with the scriptures...If this is Isaiah 17 then Damascus will be destroyed (perhaps by a new Israeli weapon? Gives a temporary sense of security in the aftermath?_ All I know is, things are really accelerating right now and we are in the 'fog of war' already. But those are the main things I'm looking for prophetically
Thanks for your reply. Just one more question...does Israel have to feel safe & secure before the rapture? Or does the anti-christ make Israel feel safe & secure because of the signed covenant?
No, there isn't any scripture that suggests they are living securely at the time of the rapture. As far as Eek 38, for the first time ever - over the last 4-6 months Ive been entertaining that Eek 38 could indeed happen very soon after the AC confirms the covenant (Dan 9:27) - but IMO it has to happen within 45 days (Dan 12) at which time the burning of the weapons would stop (this wouldnt carry over into the 1000 year reign IMO) - Its possible Its also possible that whatever happens now (if its indeed Isaiah 17/Psa 83) concludes with Israel living securely on t his side of the Tribulation. Either way I don't see the Church being here at the time of Ezek 38
To clarify (that was unclear) - if Ezek 38 happened right after the beginning of the Trib (when they would be very 'secure' as a result of the covenant confirmation - and if Ezek 38 happens within 45 days, then the burning of the weapons could still end prior to the 1000 year reign (the 45 'extra' days before the beginning of the 1000 year reign officially begins is found in Daniel 12. So to me, that could work. But Ezek 38 could also be a pre-trib event (the conventional wisdom) and that could obviously happen as well. Frucht thinks it happens 3.5 years before the beginning of the Trib and the burning of the weapons would end at the time of the AOD (midpoint of Trib)
Thank you Scott, Gary
My pleasure interesting discussion and timely
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