As this article is published 9:34 AM EDT on 19 September 2024, just minutes ago, United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urgently notified Congressional leaders that Israel is likely to invade Lebanon today.
Whether that takes place or not is, of course, up to Israel. But Secretary Austin told Congressional leaders the U.S. deems such a ground invasion "highly likely" and believes it will be undertaken WITHOUT prior notice to the U.S. He also informed Congress that Israel presently has more than enough military hardware in-place, to commence an invasion immediately.
Meanwhile, early this morning, Iran notified the United States that it's Retaliation against Israel for the assassination of HAMAS political official Ismail Henniyeh, "is definite."
Lastly, about 20 minutes from now, at 10:00 AM eastern U.S. time, Hezbollah Leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, will commence his first speech since the Israeli bombing over the past two days, of several thousand Lebanese citizens, through pocket-pager and cell phone bombs.
UPDATE 10:00 AM EDT --
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi approved battle plans for the northern front a short while ago, the military says.
