Israel on verge of launching Lebanon ground invasion, US official says

A US diplomat in the region briefed by Israeli officials told Middle East Eye that Israel was "on the verge of launching a ground invasion of Lebanon".

"They are saying that a ground invasion is necessary not just to return Israelis to the north, but to stop Tel Aviv from being struck," the diplomat said. 

The Washington Post on Monday confirmed MEE's report. The Washington Post added that Israeli officials are telling their US counterparts that the invasion will be smaller than the one during the 2006 Lebanon war.