Beirut, Lebanon - October 01, 2024

Lebanese residents have voiced their support for Hezbollah despite facing intensifying Israeli air raids and a potential ground invasion.

Over the past 24 hours, Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon have killed 55 people and injured 156 others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, 11 of the fatalities were reported in the Baalbek-Hermel district, 22 in the Nabatieh Governorate, three in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, respectively, and 16 in the South Governorate.

All of these occurred against the backdrop of Israeli "focused and limited" ground campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and many residents expressed trust in Lebanon's ability to defend itself.

Many compare the current situation to the year 2006 when Israel invaded Lebanon in a failed bid to wipe out Hezbollah. Military experts acknowledge Israel's air superiority but predict a punishing ground war as Hezbollah is more prepared than the previous time.

The Israeli military on Tuesday warned civilians in about 30 Lebanese villages and towns to leave home, claiming imminent Israeli attacks in the area, following their announcement that it launched a ground operation into southern Lebanon overnight.

Also on Tuesday, Hezbollah fired rockets at Tel Aviv and other central Israeli cities, Israel's rescue services said. The rockets triggered sirens across central Israel and several settlements in the northern occupied West Bank. Several other rocket attacks on Tuesday morning targeted bases in northern Israel.

Shotlist:
Beirut, Lebanon - Oct 1, 2024:
1. Various of fire, black smoke rising from damaged building after Israeli airstrike, people walking in damaged building, ambulances, fire engines;
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abu Ali Mouath, eyewitness to Israeli airstrike:
"The first missile made soft sound and came through between these two buildings. Then within four seconds, a missile with louder sound came from this direction and hit the first, second and third floors. It all happened in an instant, and then the missiles struck the area.";
3. Various of smoke billowing from neighborhoods struck by Israeli military;
4. Various of military staff;
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) local resident (name not given):
"They (Israel) are killing them (resistance) and have a plan on their mind to invade the land (southern Lebanon), I don't think the resistance will surrender. Maybe they can get a couple of miles into our borders, but to have a full land invasion (as they planned), no way they won't steal our land. We fully trust that God and the resistance (will protect Lebanon).";
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) local resident (name not given):
"My heart is at peace. God willing, we will be victorious. God willing, we will be victorious. God willing, just like in 2006 when we defeated them here, and they will be defeated again.";
7. Various of traffic, security staff standing outside cordon line, damaged building;
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hassan Jouni, former brigadier general, Lebanese Armed Forces:
"Their (Hezbollah's) fighters are professional, well-trained, and have been preparing the terrain for defense for the past 18 years. They have dug trenches and tunnels, and they fight a form of guerrilla warfare. A conventional military force cannot decisively win in this type of asymmetrical warfare. They will inevitably face attrition.";
Northern Israel - Oct 1, 2024
9. Various of assembling of Israeli reserve ground forces, personnel, vehicles.

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