Israel has extended its evacuation warnings in South Lebanon, heralding fears of an expanded ground invasion. The evacuation order includes the city of Nabatieh, and other Lebanese communities north of the Litani river.
Israel’s bombing and ground attack has killed almost 2,000 Lebanese people since its attack began on 26 September. At least eight Israeli soldiers have been killed by Hezbollah forces, who are resisting the Israeli ground invasion of Southern Lebanon which began earlier this week.
Several states are pulling their citizens out of Lebanon, as the invasion escalates.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday 1 October, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp launched successive waves of almost 200 missiles at Israeli military targets and settlements. The attack was in response to the Israeli assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. The missiles were largely intercepted by the Israeli state’s US-supplied Iron Dome missile defence system, with support from the US Navy.
Iran carried out a similar drone and missile attack on Israel in April.
Commentators are surmising that, as the damage from the Iranian attack was minimal, Israel could choose a minimal response. But what will happen is by no means clear. Israel is expected to send its jets into Iranian airspace, and this could herald an end to proxy war, and the beginning of direct confrontation between Iran and Israel.
“Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel,” US President Joe Biden said in response to the Iranian attack. The US is thought to be discussing Israel’s response with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, Israel’s attacks in Gaza have killed 41,500 Palestinians since 7 October 2023. White House sources say that the US has all but stopped pushing for a ceasefire until after the election in 2025.
