U.S. has intelligence suggesting Iran will imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel, Axios reports. A White House official warns “a direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Tuesday, 1 October 2024) [translated from Hebrew]: “Citizens of Israel, we are in the midst of a campaign against Iran’s axis of evil. Yesterday, I said that these were days of great achievements and great challenges: Great achievements because we eliminated Nasrallah and his senior command, as well as Hezbollah’s plan to seize the Galilee. We are determined to return our residents in the north safely to their homes. But there are also great challenges. I ask of you two things: First, strictly follow the directives of Home Front Command; it saves lives. Second, stand together. Together we will stand steadfast in the trying days ahead of us. Together we will stand. Together we will fight and together we will win.”

The scene of one of the dozens of IDF airstrikes against Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon tonight.

Video footage captured an Israeli airstrike earlier today in the Dahieh suburb of southern Beirut, located less than a mile from Rafic Hariri International Airport. The massive explosion seen in the footage suggests that a significant weapons storage facility may have been the target.

In a precise airstrike, the Israeli Air Force destroyed a Hezbollah surface-to-air missile launcher storage facility located just 1.5 kilometers from Beirut’s international airport. The missile launcher, part of Hezbollah’s aerial defense array, was concealed within civilian infrastructure, a tactic the group uses to shield its operations behind Lebanon’s civilian population. These surface-to-air missiles pose a serious threat to international airspace, including passenger planes, and are capable of targeting any aircraft flying over Lebanon. As part of Operation “Northern Arrows,” the Israeli Air Force has conducted multiple waves of strikes targeting Hezbollah’s missile infrastructure across Lebanon.

The IDF has designated the northern border communities of Metula, Misgav Am, and Kfar Giladi as a closed military zone. This follows a new assessment by Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, as Israel prepares for a potential ground offensive against Hezbollah. Access to the area is strictly prohibited.

In recent days, Major General Ori Gordin, Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, along with Brigadier Generals Moran Omer (36th Division), Guy Levy (98th Division), and Shai Klepper (91st Division), have been finalizing plans for upcoming operations at the Northern Command headquarters. As preparations for potential combat intensify, IDF soldiers from the 188th Brigade have been conducting drills near the northern border. Additionally, community defense units have been participating in training exercises to prepare for various scenarios.

The security cabinet is scheduled to gather soon at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the meeting amid growing indications that a limited ground incursion into Lebanon could be imminent.

Today (Monday, 30 September 2024) Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant visited Israel’s northern border, where he met with troops serving in Brigade 188 and the Golani Brigade. Minister Gallant was briefed by commanders on the ground, about the readiness of troops for the possibility of expanding activities in the northern arena. The Minister also spoke to battalion and company commanders, who discussed their activities in Gaza and their deployment to the northern front. Excerpts from the Minister’s remarks: “The elimination of Nasrallah is a very important step, but it is not the final one. We will employ all the capabilities at our disposal, and if someone on the other side did not understand what those capabilities entail, we mean all capabilities, and you are part of this effort.

During a meeting with northern border community mayors, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that “the next stage of the war against Hezbollah will begin soon,” indicating that Israel is likely to initiate a ground operation in Lebanon.