An Israeli tank in a staging area in northern Israel on Sunday.
Credit...Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times

Israel Conducted Raids in Lebanon

Also, some of the busiest U.S. ports are set to shut down. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.

by · NY Times

Israeli commando units made brief incursions into Lebanon in recent days, as signs emerged that Israel was preparing for a wider invasion targeting Hezbollah. Israel’s defensive minister said today that “the next stage of the war against Hezbollah will soon commence.”

The raids focused on gathering intelligence about Hezbollah positions close to Israel’s northern border, as well as on identifying Hezbollah tunnels and military infrastructure, which officials expect Israel to try to destroy if a broader operation follows. Today, troops were seen gathering at the border.

Israel’s cabinet also met this evening to discuss whether and when to launch a major ground operation in southern Lebanon, which would be Israel’s first there in nearly two decades. American officials said that they believed that the invasion would be a limited one.

In related news, U.S. officials have repeatedly warned about strengthening ties between Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

Some of the busiest U.S. ports are set to shut down

Dockworkers at every major port from Maine to Texas are likely to go on strike at midnight, unless their union and employers make a last-minute deal to resolve a monthslong standoff over wages, benefits and automation.

The walkout, by members of the International Longshoremen’s Association, would cost the economy billions of dollars a day. More than half of the nation’s container imports and exports flow through the East and Gulf Coast ports.

“Businesses have made preparations that should shield the economy from the blow of a short strike,” my colleague Peter Eavis, who reports on global logistics, told me. However, he added, if the ports are closed for longer than about two weeks, “the economic damage could become serious.”

If a strike goes on that long, Peter said, many experts expect President Biden, who has the authority to order striking dockworkers back to work, to step in. But administration officials have said he is not planning to intervene, and other unions have urged him not to.

Helene ravaged communities far from Florida’s coast

Raging floods and mudslides unleashed by the remnants of Hurricane Helene have dealt an “unprecedented tragedy” in the mountains of western North Carolina, the state’s governor said. At least 37 people in the region have died, hundreds remain unaccounted for, and drinking water, gasoline and cellphone service are scarce. Here are photos from the area.

Though the hurricane made landfall in Florida, the damage to communities across the mountains of southern Appalachia has been especially dire. Neighborhoods across the region have been destroyed, and emergency workers spent today racing to deliver much-needed supplies. President Biden said he would visit the region, possibly later this week.

On the ground: Marshall, N.C., a town of about 800 people, was more or less wiped off the map. My colleague Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs tells the story of an agonizing, unsuccessful rescue there.

Montana’s Senate race could be crucial

Tonight’s debate between Montana’s only Democratic senator, Jon Tester, and his Republican challenger, Tim Sheehy, will receive only a tiny fraction of the audience of a presidential debate. But the race could all but make or break a potential Kamala Harris presidency.

That’s because Tester is currently trailing in polls, and if he loses, the Democrats would have to count on an upset in a state like Texas or Florida to hold on to power in the Senate. Without Senate control, Harris would almost certainly have trouble accomplishing her goals.

On the campaign trail

The presidential election is 36 days away.

More top news

TIME TO UNWIND

Remembering Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson, whose literary yet plain-spoken compositions infused country music with rare candor and depth, died over the weekend at 88. He first broke through as a songwriter — with hits like “Sunday Morning Coming Down” for his friend and mentor Johnny Cash and “Me and Bobby McGee” for Janis Joplin — before a successful second career in movies.

Here’s a look back at his life in photos, and 12 essential songs.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper is up for sale

America’s most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, designed the Price Tower to resemble a tree, with green, oxidized copper paneling. It’s the only skyscraper in his portfolio, and it towers above most other buildings in Bartlesville, Okla., offering a view of the rolling prairie.

The tower was once a buzzy hub of business life, but it’s facing trouble after a plan to save it from financial collapse appears to have fallen apart. Its new owners have placed the building on auction block — starting bid $600,000 — and already sold some Wright-designed furnishings.

Dinner table topics

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

Cook: This egg foo young recipe is a great way to use up leftovers.

Watch: Here are five science fiction movies to stream right now.

Read: Yoko Tawada’s new novel, “Suggested in the Stars,” is magnificently weird.

Listen: Our critic made a playlist exploring the musical history of clowning.

Consider: These are the shoes that nurses swear by.

Compete: Take this week’s Flashback history quiz.

Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here.

ONE LAST THING

The star of Sushi-Con: a 400-pound tuna

On a recent Sunday, thousands of people lined up outside an event space in Manhattan, eagerly awaiting the ceremonial carving of an enormous bluefin tuna. The fish, which was caught off the coast of Ibiza and shipped overnight from Barcelona, might fetch $20 to $40 a bite prepared as sushi.

But on this day, it was the centerpiece of Sushi-Con, an all-you-can-eat event that bills itself as the largest expo of Japanese cuisine in the country. Fortunately for attendees, tuna is about as nutritious as a food can be.

Have a delicate evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

Sean Kawasaki-Culligan was our photo editor today.

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.