Israel has launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon: "Based on the decision of our political echelon a few hours ago, the Israel Defense Forces have initiated limited, localized, and targeted ground raids against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon," reads the statement from the Israel Defense Forces.

Yesterday, on September 29, Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, stated that the next phase of Israel's war against Hezbollah would soon begin. U.S. President Joe Biden yesterday called for a ceasefire.

"I know more than you might know. It is more acceptable to me that they stop. We must achieve a ceasefire immediately," said Joe Biden on Monday in response to a CBS journalist's question about whether he had information regarding the start of Israel's ground operation.

EU member states are calling for a meeting of the UN Security Council. According to the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, "Any further military intervention would dramatically aggravate the situation and it has to be avoided."