Joe Biden warned the Middle East is now on the brink of ‘all-out war’ with Israel preparing to open a second front with a ground invasion of Lebanon.
The president joined pleas for de-escalation from international leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, adding that he thinks the opportunity remains ‘to have a settlement that can fundamentally change the whole region’.
Israel and Hezbollah’s burgeoning conflict took a dramatic turn overnight as army chief Herzi Halevi told troops to ‘prepare’ themselves to strike into Lebanon behind the salvoes of rockets continuing to pound Hezbollah strongpoints.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hezbollah is being hit harder ‘with blows it never imagined’ as he vowed to ensure the thousands of Israelis evacuated from the northern border would soon be able to return to their homes and jobs.
But with more than 90,000 people newly displaced across Lebanon, pressure fell on Britain’s Keir Starmer to ensure the safety of nationals caught in the crossfire. As many as 10,000 are stranded as Britain scrambles contingency plans for emergency evacuations.
Heavy clashes along Lebanon’s southern border continued for a third day as international onlookers urged de-escalation and restraint.
Israeli jets carried out extensive strikes in the south of Lebanon, with NASA reporting huge fires growing throughout the region.
Exchanges of rockets between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been ongoing since the war in Gaza erupted on October 7.
But the most clear admission of escalation came on Wednesday as Israeli Major General Halevi told troops on the northern border: ‘Your boots will enter enemy territory.’
He said the punishing airstrikes this week were designed to ‘prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah.’
The Israeli military has said in recent days it had no immediate plans for a ground invasion, but Halevi’s comments were the strongest yet suggesting troops could move in.
Israel said Wednesday it would activate two reserve brigades for missions in the north – another sign that Israel plans tougher action.
‘This will enable the continuation of combat against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation,’ it said in a statement.
Tensions ratcheted up as Hezbollah targeted Tel Aviv with missiles, reportedly for the first time in the group’s history.
Hezbollah claimed the rockets were aimed at Mossad’s headquarters, but Israel said they were heading for ‘civilian areas’.
Mediators have scrambled to find a way to stop the conflict from spilling over into a much larger war amid fears Iran and its other proxies could be dragged in.
Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss new ceasefire proposals.
Macron had earlier told the UN that there ‘must not be war in Lebanon’, adding that he would send his foreign minister to the former French administration by the end of the week.
France pressed the UN security council to hold an emergency session on the matter soon.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
