No major developments on the Lebanon-Israel border
Israel does seem to be expanding its operations on the ground in Lebanon, but we’re yet to see any major changes along the border. It seems like Hezbollah fighters are continuing to take on Israeli forces.
But we have had some statements from the Israelis, and one is kind of bizarre. What they’ve said is that they’ve located a tunnel that goes from Lebanese territory under the border 32 feet (9.7 metres) into Israeli territory but has no exit, so they’re saying it’s a work in progress.
Now, they’re making a big deal out of this, but it seems like this tunnel was going nowhere. But they also claim they’ve killed hundreds of Hezbollah operatives and fighters, destroyed Hezbollah positions and recovered weapons.
A 32 feet tunnel, my yard is bigger than that.
Israeli forces hoist flag on the outskirts of Lebanese border village, video shows
Israeli forces have hoisted Israel’s flag on the ruins of Iran Garden park on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese border village of Maroun Al-Ras, a video circulating on social media and geolocated by CNN shows.
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli military said it had taken control of a Hezbollah combat compound in the Maroun Al-Ras area. It’s unclear if the Israeli military is still present in the area. CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment.
Satellite imagery from October 5 appears to show nearly 30 Israeli military vehicles near the Lebanese border village of Maroun Al-Ras, where Israeli soldiers have been filmed hoisting a flag.
While it is unclear when Israeli forces planted the flag, the satellite imagery shared by Planet Labs appears to show the Israeli military vehicles behind berms that surround a base belonging to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The base is less than half a mile southeast of Iran Garden park, where the Israeli flag was hoisted.
On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that the “Israeli tanks and other armed elements” had since left the area surrounding the UNIFIL base. “I strongly appeal — strongly appeal — to both parties to fully respect the safety and security of UNIFIL,” Guterres said.
CNN analysis of the same imagery indicates that Iran Garden was heavily damaged on October 5.
Less than 1000 meters into Lebanon, PR shot
New Israeli air strikes hit Bekaa valley
Our colleagues on the ground are reporting a massive air strike on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in the last 30 minutes. They have also added that at least four strikes took place on Dahiyeh, the southern suburb of Beirut.
Israeli army says at least 180 rockets fired from Lebanon
The Israeli military says Hezbollah fired 180 rockets into Israeli territory in various attacks today.
As we reported earlier, Hezbollah fired more than 80 rockets at the northern Israeli city of Haifa, as the group’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, said in a public address that Hezbollah’s military capabilities were intact.
