5.30 p.m.: According to US media reports, Israel is planning a limited ground offensive in Lebanon that could begin shortly. This was reported by the “Washington Post” and the broadcaster CBS, citing a US government official who stated that Israel had informed the USA of a corresponding plan. The operation could therefore begin within hours.
The scope of the operation should be smaller than the war against the radical Islamic Hezbollah militia in 2006. The aim is to ensure security for the communities on the border with Lebanon. A ground offensive by Israel against Hezbollah is likely to fuel fears that the war will expand to include Iran and the USA.
US President Joe Biden did not directly confirm the reports in an exchange with journalists. Asked whether he was aware of and agreed with Israel’s plans to launch a “limited operation” in Lebanon, Biden replied: “I know more than you think. And I agree with them stopping. We should have a ceasefire now.”
4:20 p.m.: The Bundeswehr has dispatched an A321 aircraft to evacuate personnel from the German embassy in Lebanon. The plane flew to Beirut on Monday, the Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of Defense said. This should fly out “personnel who are not urgently needed” as well as relatives of the embassy employees. Read more about this here.
