Israel war: Hezbollah fights Israeli troops; Dozens of terrorists ‘eliminated’

Israel has ruled out a retaliatory strike on Iran’s oil and nuclear assets – a move which could see the conflict explode. It comes as US troops arrive on the ground in the Middle East.

Israel will not target any Iranian nuclear or oil facilities despite fears over how the Jewish state might shape its response to the ballistic missile barrage Iran unleashed earlier this month.

The revelation comes as America revealed on Tuesday the first wave of US boots on the ground have already arrived in Israel along with the components of the powerful Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence system which will help bolster Israel’s already formidable Iron Dome.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers hold a phone call with US President Joe Biden. Picture: Courtesy of the Israeli government.

“Over the coming days, additional US military personnel and THAAD battery components will continue to arrive in Israel,” Pentagon press secretary Major General Patrick Ryder said on Tuesday.

“The battery will be fully operational capable in the near future, but for operations security reasons we will not discuss timelines.”

US President Joe Biden, has spoken publicly about his desire for Israel to take a measured response to Iran’s ballistic missile onslaught.

This public plea was followed with a classified phone call between the American president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Washington Post reports Mr Netanyahu told Mr Biden he would heed his advice.

Mr Netanyahu responded directly to the Washington Post article with a tweet on X.

“We listen to the opinions of the United States, but we will make our final decisions based on our national interests,” Mr Netanyahu wrote.

US Vice President Kamala Harris and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington in July. The two countries remain staunch allies. Picture: AFP.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Israel’s military has launched strikes on eastern Lebanon, official Lebanese media reported, as Hezbollah fought Israeli soldiers after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed no mercy for the militant group.

The Israeli leader’s pledge came a day after a drone attack by the Iran-backed Lebanese group on an Israeli base killed four soldiers, while volunteer rescuers said another 60 people were wounded.

“We will continue to mercilessly strike Hezbollah in all parts of Lebanon — including Beirut,” Mr Netanyahu said on a visit to the base near Binyamina, south of Haifa.

Hezbollah said its “fighters clashed with” Israeli troops Tuesday who were trying to infiltrate on the outskirts of Rab Tlatin village.

The group also said it launched missiles at soldiers and a barrage of rockets at northern Israel, while the military reported sirens blaring near the border.

A cloud of smoke erupts following an Israeli air strike on the village of Deir Qanoun on October 14, 2024. Picture: AFP

Israel’s military, meanwhile, said its “troops eliminated dozens of terrorists in close-quarters combat” and strikes over the past day.

Since Israel last month escalated its bombing in Lebanon before sending ground troops across the frontier, the war has killed at least 1,315 people, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry figures, though the real toll is likely higher.

Israel launched multiple air strikes early on Tuesday in the eastern Bekaa Valley, putting a hospital in Baalbek city out of service, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The International Committee of the Red Cross’s regional director, Nicolas Von Arx, appealed Monday for the protection of ambulances and other health facilities and personnel, calling attacks on them “deeply worrying”.

Israeli strikes have targeted Hezbollah strongholds as well as other parts of Lebanon, including a northern Christian-majority village where at least 21 people were killed Monday, according to the health ministry.

Anis Abla, civil defence chief in the southern border town of Marjayoun, said rescuers were “exhausted”.

“Our rescue missions are becoming more and more difficult, because the strikes are never-ending and target us,” said Abla.

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