Türkiye Says Israel’s Ground Offensive into Lebanon Is Illegal, Kremlin Voices Concern

An Israeli attack helicopter fires towards Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
An Israeli attack helicopter fires towards Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
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Türkiye Says Israel’s Ground Offensive into Lebanon Is Illegal, Kremlin Voices Concern

An Israeli attack helicopter fires towards Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)
An Israeli attack helicopter fires towards Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, as seen from northern Israel, October 1, 2024. (Reuters)

Türkiye’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that Israel's ground offensive into Lebanon was an illegal attempt at occupation that violated Lebanese territorial integrity, and added the operation must immediately end with Israel withdrawing from Lebanon.

Israeli paratroopers, commandos and armored units launched raids at the start of a ground incursion into south Lebanon, as intense fighting erupted with Hezbollah fighters on Tuesday.

In a statement, the foreign ministry said Israel's offensive targeted regional countries' security and stability as well, and added it was "highly likely" that a new migrant wave will emerge from the fighting.

It called on the UN Security Council to "do what is necessary" in line with international law.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was deeply concerned about Israel's military activity in Lebanon and a reported strike on the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Syrian state media said on Tuesday morning that three civilians had been killed and nine others injured in an Israeli airstrike on Damascus.

"We are witnessing together that the geography of hostilities is expanding, which is further destabilizing the region and increasing tensions. These tensions are destructive to the region and the surrounding areas. We remain deeply concerned," Peskov said.

He added that Moscow was in constant contact with Damascus.

"We see no immediate risks at the moment, but of course we condemn such strikes against a sovereign state," said Peskov.

Poland will limit the number of staff at its embassy in Beirut, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, adding that Warsaw would organize transport for Polish citizens who want to leave Lebanon.

"The decision was made to limit the staff at our embassy in Beirut," spokesperson Pawel Wronski told reporters. "Mainly these are the families of diplomats. We will try to keep the essential people, and those who are not essential will return to the country (Poland)" 



US Sees Indications of Imminent Iranian Missile Attack on Israel

People take shelter during an air raid siren after which Israel's military said a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 28, 2024. (Reuters)
People take shelter during an air raid siren after which Israel's military said a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 28, 2024. (Reuters)
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US Sees Indications of Imminent Iranian Missile Attack on Israel

People take shelter during an air raid siren after which Israel's military said a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 28, 2024. (Reuters)
People take shelter during an air raid siren after which Israel's military said a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, in Tel Aviv, Israel, September 28, 2024. (Reuters)

The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel that could be at least as large as a strike that Tehran staged earlier this year, US officials said on Tuesday.

The United States is actively supporting preparations to defend Israel against a new Iranian missile attack, a senior White House official said.

"A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran," the official said.

A second US official said that the Iranian strike could be as large or potentially bigger than one on April 14 in which Tehran launched more than 300 missiles and drones.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The April attack - the first-ever direct Iranian strike on Israel - was in retaliation for what Iran called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate that killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers, including two senior commanders.

It caused only modest damage inside Israel due to air defense interceptions not only by Israel, but by the United States, Britain and other allies in the region.

The US warning of a looming Iranian strike followed Israel's announcement that its forces staged raids into southern Lebanon in a limited incursion as it pursues two weeks of strikes against Hezbollah militants that have killed the Iran-backed group's leader and senior commanders.

Israeli leaders have vowed to pursue operations against the fighters until it is safe for civilians to return to their homes in northern Israel from which they were evacuated after Hezbollah began missile strikes on Oct. 8, a day after Hamas' assault into Israel.

The Hamas assault triggered the ongoing Israeli offensive that has devastated Gaza.

The Pentagon has said that the United States would come to Israel's defense if Iran launched another attack.

It has moved thousands of additional US forces into the region to bolster its ability to defend Israel and US forces in the region. Pentagon officials say it is even better prepared for a new Iranian attack than it was in April.

An Iranian attack, should it occur, could pose a major challenge to President Joe Biden's administration goal for his Middle East policy: preventing the Israel-Hamas war from ballooning into a regional conflict.