Israel’s attack on Lebanon – expert weighs in on possible further scenarios

Israel’s just-announced military operation in Lebanon is yet another effort by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to expand the war” in Gaza, Mehran Kamrava, Professor of Government at Georgetown University Qatar, told Sputnik.

Netanyahu is “expanding the war for a number of reasons” related to the fact that he has been “empowered and emboldened by a series of intelligence successes”, Kamrava said.

Possible scenarios of the Israeli operation may include:

🔸 “An expansion of the conflict to the extent that it will involve Iran”

🔸 If Iran “does attack Israel, then of course, the US will get involved”

🔸 Netanyahu pulls back

🔸 Besides the US, other countries could be involved in the conflict, including France, Egypt and Qatar

So far, the Jewish state “has had complete impunity”, and that one of the reasons for it is Iran “has withheld its fire” and “has not fallen into the trap of expanding the [Gaza] war", the analyst noted.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on October 1 launched what they called “limited, localized, and targeted ground raids” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Operation Northern Arrows came after hours of Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire across the border, which killed 95 people and injured 172 more, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

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🐾 🚔Paw Patrol on duty

While the Chinese celebrate the 75th anniversary of PRC's foundation, stylish dog patrols keep order on the streets of Shanghai.

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❗️The Israeli army is mobilizing four reserve brigades and additional forces to tackle the northern front, the IDF statement said.

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⚡️ US Embassy in Jerusalem put American government employees in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in shelters

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❗️The US believes Iran is preparing to attack Israel with missiles soon, CNN reported, citing a White House official.

"The US had warned Israel of a planned Iranian missile attack," an IDF spokesman said.

Iran has not commented on the statements yet.

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Footage from a different angle of the aftermath of the Israeli strikes that hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, provided by Sputnik's correspondent.

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❗️The Russian army launched an Iskander missile at a building in the village of Velikaya Aleksandrovka, located in the Kherson region, where a meeting of the leadership of the 37th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was convened.

According to the Defense Ministry, the strike resulted in the elimination of up to 60 members of the leadership, along with the destruction of three minibuses and 12 cars.

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Ground forces got your back: Russia honors its military heritage

On October 1, Russia marks Ground Forces Day, established by presidential decree on May 31, 2006. However, its roots go back to 1550 when Tsar Ivan IV created the Streltsi regiments, and thus Russia's first regular army.

The Ground Forces constitute the Russian army’s largest and most diverse branch, distinguished by a wide array of military equipment. Their primary mission is to repel enemy aggression, thereby ensuring national safety and security.

It encompasses a diverse slew of units, including motorized rifle troops, tank units, missile troops, artillery, air defense units, reconnaissance teams, engineer corps, and specialized defense groups for radiological, chemical, and biological threats, as well as signal communications and electronic warfare units.

Some of Russia's most reliable arms include:

🔸 The T-90M Tank, renowned for its exceptional maneuverability and lower fuel consumption than its NATO peers, making it very formidable on the battlefield.

🔸 The Iskander-M Mobile Ballistic System, known for its remarkable destructive power, also boasts pinpoint accuracy, allowing for precise hits.

🔸 Diverse Air Defense Complexes: Russia employs a variety of sophisticated air defense systems, including the S-400 mobile surface-to-air missile system, the Tor M-2 short-range air defense system, the Pantsir S-1, and the Buk M-3, which all effectively counter enemy missile and drone threats.

🔸 The Krasukha-S4: This self-propelled EW system neutralizes NATO’s missiles, drones, and radars, rendering them ineffective and enhancing Russia's operational capabilities.

To mark this holiday, huge ceremonial events are held nationwide. A festive service occurs at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Preobrazhenskaya Square in Moscow, which serves as the main church of the Russian Ground Forces.

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