Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi advised Israeli ground troops to prepare for a cross-border assault into Lebanon on Sept. 25 to drive back Hezbollah militants.
In a Wednesday press statement, the IDF recounted Halevi’s remarks while visiting Israeli troops stationed on the Israel-Lebanon border. Addressing members of the IDF Northern Command’s 7th Armored Brigade. Halevi said Israeli aerial forces are continuing to conduct strikes over the border, “both to prepare the area for the possibility of your entry, and also to continue harming Hezbollah.”
Halevi’s call for Israeli troops to prepare for a ground assault comes as Israel has stepped up efforts to degrade Hezbollah’s fighting forces and deter them from conducting drone and rocket attacks on Israel.
Last week, hundreds of Hezbollah members were injured and killed as a mysterious series of blasts swept across their handheld pagers and other electronic devices. Israel did not claim responsibility for the pager blasts, but Hezbollah and the Lebanese government believe Israel is responsible, as do other international observers.
While not claiming responsibility for the pager blasts, Israeli forces have acknowledged conducting hundreds of strikes on suspected Hezbollah targets in recent days. Hezbollah has, in turn, continued to launch rockets and drones at areas of Israel, including Tel Aviv.
“Hezbollah today expanded its circle of fire, later today, it will receive a very strong response. You will prepare,” Halevi told troops of the IDF Northern Command’s 7th Armored Brigade on Wednesday.
The IDF chief said the military operations will aim to push Hezbollah away from the border, and allow for the safe return of Israeli civilians who have evacuated from the north after Hezbollah first started launching rocket, missile, and drone attacks last October.
Hyping the troops for a potentially imminent battle inside Lebanon, Halevi said Hezbollah militants “will see what it is like to meet a professional fighting force.” He further encouraged his troops, saying they will be “much stronger” and “much more experienced” than their opponents.
Should Israeli forces march across their northern border to do battle with Hezbollah, it would force the Israeli military to further divide its attention between two major fronts. Israeli forces continue to operate inside the Gaza Strip after nearly a year of fighting there, with hopes of eliminating Hamas and winning the return of captives taken from Israel on Oct. 7.
Israeli forces have also been heavily involved lower-level clashes and policing actions inside the occupied West Bank; a land over which Israelis and Palestinians contest control.
This article was originally published by FreeBase News and is reprinted with permission.
