Israel-Hezbollah attacks RECAP: IDF troops begin ‘targeted ground raids’ in Lebanon as UK government charters flight for fleeing Brits

If you are just joining us, there has been an escalation in the Middle East.

• Israel last night confirmed that its long-awaited ground invasion of Lebanon was underway
• The IDF said it had begun ‘localised and targeted raids’ against Hezbollah enemies in southern Lebanon
• The ground invasion came as Israel bombarded Lebanon with air strikes
• Earlier, the US confirmed it had been informed of an imminent ground assault
• Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Qassem also said the group was ready for the incursion, warning the battle ‘may be long’.
• US President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy both called for a ceasefire – but maintained Israel should be allowed to defend itself
• The escalation comes after Israel decimated Hezbollah’s leadership

The Israeli military shared footage of a strike on a Hezbollah target, located near to Beirut’s international airport.

The U.S. is sending a ‘few thousand’ troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to defend Israel if necessary, the Pentagon said Monday.

The announcement comnes after Israel launched limited ground raids across the border into Lebanon.

The additional forces would raise the total number of troops in the region to as many as 43,000.

The increased presence will involve multiple fighter jet and attack aircraft squadrons, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters.

Syrian state media said air defences were intercepting ‘hostile’ targets in the Damascus area on Tuesday.

‘Our air defence systems are intercepting hostile targets in the Damascus area,’ Syria’s official SANA news agency said, using a phrase usually used to refer to Israeli strikes.

The graphic shows where Lebanon and Syria are in relation to Israel.

The IDF has launched a barrage of rockets alongside its ground invasion.

But the army has also revealed that it is facing its own bombardment from southern Lebanon.

The army said that around ten rockets were identified crossing from Lebanon.

It said some were intercepted and others ‘fell into open areas’.

The Israeli military has confirmed that it has begun its long-awaited ground invasion of Lebanon.

In a brief announcement released Tuesday, it said it was striking Hezbollah targets in areas close to the Israeli border, and that air force and artillery units were carrying out attacks to support the ground forces.

It gave no details on how long the operation would last but said the army had been training and preparing for months.

‘A few hours ago, the IDF began limited, localised and targeted ground raids,’ it said. ‘These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.’

The incursion came shortly after it was approved by Israeli political leaders and marked a new stage in Israel’s war against Hezbollah.

People can be seen watching from their windows as huge plumes of smoke rise in the Dahieh district, located south of Beirut.

Violence has escalated in the Middle East – as Israel target Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen.

The UK Government has chartered a commercial flight out of Lebanon for Britons wanting to leave amid escalating violence.

The flight is due to leave Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday and vulnerable British nationals and their spouses, partners and children under 18 will be prioritised, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said on Monday night.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: ‘The situation in Lebanon is volatile and has potential to deteriorate quickly.

‘The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our utmost priority.

‘That’s why the UK Government is chartering a flight to help those wanting to leave. It is vital that you leave now as further evacuation may not be guaranteed.’

In another sign that an incursion is moments away, or possibly underway already, Hezbollah says it has ‘targeted’ Israeli troops carrying out ‘movements’ at the Lebanon border.

Hezbollah says it achieved ‘confirmed hits’ on its targets.

As it is late at night, it is difficult to see whether Israeli forces have crossed the border.

But heavy artillery can be heard and seen, with Lebanese media reporting shelling in the towns of Khiam and Wazzani, on the southern border with Israel.

Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire across the border since the October 7 Hamas attacks, but the last time the two enemies engaged in ground combat was in 2006.

Tension escalated when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated by Israel on Friday.

In total more than 20 ­Hezbollah members were killed by the Israeli Air Force.

The IDF are now preparing to move into Lebanon with tanks in a move that could plunge the Middle East into further violence.

As well as attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, Israeli forces have also targeted Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Outgoing rounds can be heard from the Israeli side of the border, with Lebanese media reporting heavy artillery is being felt in border towns on their side.

Clashes have broken out as a group of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv to condemn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for not signing the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Anger has also mounted over Israel’s ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

The conflcit in the Middle East has escalated in recent days after Israel eliminated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah (pictured below) in an air strike on Friday.

In an astonishing update, there are now claims that the Hezbollah leader was smeared with a chemical agent that allowed spies to track his movements before he was killed.

Nasrallah shook hands with an Israeli agent who passed on the unknown substance, according to a Saudi Arabian news channel.

The Mail’s Diplomacy Editor, Marc Nicol, has the full story below:

The IDF has asked for the media to refrain from reporting on the location of troops ‘due to the security’ of Israel’s army.

The military has refused to confirm or deny whether an incursion into Lebanon is underway.

Spokesman Daniel Hagari said: ‘In recent hours there have been many reports and rumors about IDF activity on the Lebanese border.

‘We ask not to transmit reports about the activities of the forces, due to the security of our forces. Stick to the official reports only and do not spread irresponsible rumors.’

Israel’s military have tonight issued a warning for residents in Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate due to planned strikes on Hezbollah targets.

Civilians living in the neighbourhoods of Lilac, Haret Hreik and Burj Al-Barajneh have been urged to leave.

‘You are located near interests and facilities belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah, and therefore the IDF will act against them forcefully,’ the army said.

It comes as Israel continue to strike Lebanon ahead of piling tanks into the region for an anticipated ground invasion.

Israeli tanks are pictured below, gathering on the border amid an escalating campaign against Hezbollah.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has urged Brits to leave Lebanon immediately amid the threat of a ground invasion by Israel.

Mr Lammy said the situation on the ground is ‘fast moving’ and ministers can’t guarantee being able to help ‘if things escalate in a major way over the coming hours and days’.

He told reporters on Monday night: ‘I have been urging since coming to office in July for British nationals to leave Lebanon. And indeed the previous government from October 2023 was urging UK nationals not to travel to Lebanon.

‘Notwithstanding that we sent a rapid response team. 700 troops are in Cyprus. We will do all we can to assist people to get out. We have secured places on commercial flights that are flying tomorrow so that UK nationals can get out.’

He added: ‘I urge them to leave because the situation on the ground is fast moving.

‘While we will do everything we can to protect British nationals and those plans are in place to do so, we cannot anticipate the circumstances of the speed with which we could do that If things escalate in a major way over the coming hours and days.’

The sound of explosions and artillery being fired can be heard and seen near the Israel-Lebanon border.

All the signs are there that an incursion is set to begin shortly – if not already underway.

The Israeli army has declared three of its northern communities as a ‘closed military zone’.

The US said it has been informed about the raids, which have been described as ‘limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border.’

Below, an Isareli mobile artillery unit is pictured firing from northern Israel towards southern Lebanon.

Israel is preparing to launch a ‘limited’ ground invasion of Lebanon in the next few hours, in a move which could plunge the Middle East into all-out war.

Follow our live coverage as we monitor the situation on the Israel-Lebanon border.

Lebanese media is reporting heavy artillery is being fired – in a sign that an incursion is just moments away.