Israel has mobilized its reserve brigades and appears to be preparing for a full-scale ground assault on Lebanese territory as the conflict with Hezbollah intensifies.
This move comes as Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating largely out of Lebanon, continues to launch missile attacks against Israel, pushing the region closer to a broader conflict.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are now focused on what appears to be more than just border skirmishes. IDF General Staff chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has confirmed that military maneuvers are underway, targeting Hezbollah’s deeply entrenched positions in southern Lebanon.
These positions include fortified villages with underground infrastructure that the group has used to stage missile attacks against Israel. Halevi emphasized the need to return displaced residents of Israel’s northern regions to their homes, stating that Israeli forces would soon enter Hezbollah-controlled areas to dismantle these military outposts.
In addition to ramping up ground operations, Israel has escalated its bombing campaign in southern Lebanon, signaling a broader strategy to cripple Hezbollah’s capabilities. Israeli officials have activated thousands of troops from two reserve brigades to support the military push northward into Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
The missile fire from Hezbollah has intensified, with the latest incident involving a “heavy missile” launched from Lebanon. Hezbollah claimed the target was the headquarters of Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, though Israeli officials denied this. The missile was intercepted before reaching its target.
The looming ground assault and Israel’s intensified airstrikes have prompted concerns that this regional conflict could expand, drawing in external powers like the United States, which supports Israel, and Iran, a backer of Hezbollah and Hamas. While neither country has taken direct military action so far, the situation risks escalating into a larger war if hostilities continue to grow.
The ongoing conflict comes on the heels of recent sabotage operations targeting Hezbollah. A series of explosions in Lebanon destroyed key Hezbollah communication equipment and maimed or killed several of its members.
While Israel has not officially taken responsibility, the incidents have been widely attributed to Israeli intelligence operations aimed at weakening Hezbollah’s operational capacity.
