With US expecting ‘imminent’ Israeli ground incursion, Biden and French FM call for Lebanon ceasefire ‘now’

U.S. President Joe Biden said there should be a “ceasefire now” between Israel and the Lebanese terrorist organization Hezbollah, amid reports that the United States believes Israel is preparing to launch a limited ground invasion of southern Lebanon, according to the Washington Post.

On Monday evening, CBS News reported a ground offensive could begin within hours, citing an anonymous U.S. official who said that Israel had informed the U.S. of its plans.

Meanwhile, the positioning of Israeli forces near the border suggested that an invasion would be imminent, a U.S. official told Reuters Monday evening.

The Israeli security cabinet was set to meet for deliberations that same evening, Israeli media reported.

Speaking to the press on Monday, Biden was asked whether he was aware and comfortable with reports of Israel’s plans to invade Lebanon.

“I’m more aware than you might know and I’m comfortable with them stopping. We should have a ceasefire now,” the president responded, without further comment.

President Biden on #Israel on a question about #Israel planning an imminent ground operation in #Lebanon: “I am more aware than you might know, and I’m comfortable with them stopping. We should have a ceasefire now” pic.twitter.com/tfxtcHobWL

— Middle East and North Africa Breaking News (@MENABRKNews) September 30, 2024

“Israel has plans for a limited operation that will be imminent. They are in line with the Americans. The understanding is that they are not going to do another Gaza,” an informed Israeli source told the Washington Post.

A U.S. official told the newspaper that Israel is ready to start a “limited ground invasion” to clear southern Lebanon of Hezbollah infrastructure.

The “scaled-down” operation will reportedly focus on dismantling tunnels, rocket launchers and storehouses before pulling back to Israel.

Israel told the Biden administration that it plans to carry out “limited raids” along the border.

While the U.S. official said, “We do not expect it will look like 2006,” he added that the Biden administration is still concerned the operation could get out of hand and grow into a larger operation that could kick off a regional war.

While Israel so far hasn’t called up large reserve forces, except two infantry brigades last week, its leadership has repeatedly indicated its readiness for a ground offensive, if necessary.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Israeli special forces have begun conducting “small, targeted raids” in southern Lebanon in preparation for a larger-scale deployment of ground forces into the country.

The WSJ added that the limited raids have focused on intelligence gathering and force probing, including entrance into some of the Hezbollah tunnels located on the border. 

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hinted that a ground operation may begin soon.

Speaking with mayors of northern Israeli towns, he said: “The next phase in the war against Hezbollah will begin soon. It will be a significant factor in changing the security situation and will allow us to complete the important [mission] of returning the residents to their homes.”

“We will do this. And as I said here a month ago [that] we will shift the center of gravity [to the north], this is what I say now: We will change the situation and return the residents home,” Gallant added.

Échanges avec les autorités libanaises : @Najib_Mikati, Nabih Berri, Bechara Boutros Rahi et Joseph Aoun.

Les solutions diplomatiques existent : cessez-le-feu, respect du droit international et humanitaire, mise en œuvre de la résolution 1701.
La France reste aux côtés du Liban. pic.twitter.com/msANu1izlL

— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) September 30, 2024

During a visit to Beirut, France’s new foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, called on Israel not to invade.

“I… urge Israel to refrain from any ground incursion and to cease fire. I call on Hezbollah to do the same and to refrain from any action likely to lead to regional destabilization,” said Barrot.

He added that the French government would increase its support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), after meeting with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Earlier on Monday, Mikati said the Lebanese government is prepared to implement UN Resolution 1701, including the deployment of LAF in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanani said the regime was following the developments, adding that it wouldn’t allow “the criminal acts of the Zionist regime” to go unanswered.

However, Kanani also denied reports that Iran would send forces to Lebanon to help Hezbollah fight against the IDF.

“The governments of Lebanon and Palestine have the capacity and power to confront the aggression of the Zionist regime, and there is no need to deploy Iranian auxiliary or volunteer forces,” said Kanani.