Israel is preparing to launch a ground offensive aimed at seizing the entire area south of the Litani River and dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios.
“We are going to do what we did in Gaza,” a senior Israeli official said, referring to the destruction of buildings and tunnels used by Hezbollah to store weapons and launch attacks. “The goal is to take over territory, push Hezbollah’s forces north and away from the border, and dismantle its military positions and weapons depots in the villages.”
The shift toward a larger operation came after Hezbollah launched more than 200 rockets at northern Israel on Wednesday in an attack coordinated with Iranian missile fire.
“Before this attack we were ready for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but after it there is no way back,” the official said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Friday that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered a “broad reinforcement” of troops to the Northern Command. The deployment includes the 98th Division with two brigade-level combat teams and combat engineering battalions. Reservist forces from the 252nd Division will deploy to the Gaza Strip to replace standing army units moving north.
Israel may also approve mobilization of up to 450,000 reservists, up from a current ceiling of approximately 260,000, KAN reported.
Despite the military buildup, Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in the coming days, two Israeli officials told Reuters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tasked former minister Ron Dermer with handling Lebanese diplomatic contacts, while Trump adviser Massad Boulos is facilitating discussions between the parties.
Washington supports Israel’s operation but has asked Jerusalem to spare Lebanon’s international airport and state infrastructure, U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios. Israel agreed not to strike the Beirut airport but stopped short of a blanket commitment on other infrastructure.
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Lebanon “will pay an increasing price through damage to Lebanese national infrastructure.”
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Friday his group was prepared for a prolonged fight. “We have prepared ourselves for a long confrontation, and God willing, they will be surprised on the battlefield,” Qassem said.
