Israel Considers Targeting Beirut as IDF Crosses Litani River Near Nabatieh

Israel is considering a significant expansion of its military campaign in Lebanon, including the possibility of targeting Beirut, according to a report by Israel's Channel 13.

“Israel expanded its ground assault in Lebanon with its broadest incursion into the country in a quarter-century as Hezbollah — Iran’s most powerful regional ally — stepped up attacks on Israel’s north”

Fortune

The Fortune report says Israel expanded its ground assault in Lebanon with its broadest incursion into the country in a quarter-century, as Hezbollah stepped up attacks on Israel’s north.

Fortune

The Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement that they’d crossed the Litani River and are near Shi’ite-majority Nabatieh, which the IDF describes as a stronghold of Hezbollah.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "I have instructed the IDF to expand the incursion in Lebanon. Our forces have crossed the Litani River and took dominant terrain," citing the capture of the Beaufort ridge.

The Fortune report adds that Sunday’s escalation comes as French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the fresh advance and called for a ceasefire, saying, "Nothing justifies the major escalation currently underway in southern Lebanon."

The United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting on Monday afternoon at France's request to discuss military developments in Lebanon following the Israeli army's seizure of the historic Qal'at al-Shqif fortress in the south of the country, according to diplomatic sources.

The سكاي نيوز عربية report says France’s request comes as French President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate halt to the escalation, stressing that 'nothing justifies the large-scale escalation currently underway in southern Lebanon.'

Haaretz

Germany expressed deep concern about the Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon, with German Foreign Minister Johan Wadivol saying that any further escalation would only worsen the tense situation and cause new waves of displacement inside Lebanon.

In the اندبندنت عربية report, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Israeli military escalation in Lebanon has killed and displaced civilians, destroyed infrastructure, and narrowed diplomatic prospects.

The اندبندنت عربية report quotes Lebanon’s Health Ministry as stating that "the massacre carried out by the Israeli enemy in an airstrike on the town of Deir al-Zahrani in the Nabatieh District early Sunday resulted in eight deaths".

The PressTV report says Israel has been caught off guard by the scale and intensity of Hezbollah’s rocket and drone attacks launched in response to the regime’s expanded ground offensive and deadly airstrikes in southern Lebanon.

“Israel is considering a significant expansion of its military campaign in Lebanon, including the possibility of targeting Beirut, according to a report by Israel's Channel 13”

Middle East Eye

PressTV adds that Hebrew Channel 13 reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened security consultations as northern communities faced continuous alerts, interceptions, and rocket impacts.

The Fortune report says Israeli airstrikes in response to renewed attacks by Hezbollah in March have devastated swathes of southern Lebanon and the capital, Beirut, and killed at least 3,370 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

PressTV reports that Lebanese authorities said that since early March, Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,371 people, injured over 10,129 others and displaced more than 1.6 million people.

In the Middle East Eye report, Channel 13 said Israeli military and political leaders are discussing a major increase in the pace and scope of attacks as the offensive continues to intensify across Lebanon, with Netanyahu expected to make the final decision on the scale and timing of any escalation.