Israel is preparing to significantly expand the ground military operation in Lebanon with the objective of taking control of all territory south of the Litani River and dismantling the military infrastructure of the terrorist group Hezbollah, Israeli and US officials have confirmed.
If implemented, it would be the largest Israeli ground offensive against its northern neighbor since the 2006 war and could drag Lebanon to the center of the growing regional conflict linked to Iran.
Iran opened fire on Israel in coordination with Hezbollah.
A senior Israeli official said that the military plan contemplates actions similar to those carried out in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli Army demolished buildings that, he maintains, were used by Hezbollah to store
weapons or launch attacks against Israeli territory.
The operation could lead to a prolonged occupation of southern Lebanon if Israeli forces succeed in consolidating control of the territory and expelling fighters from the Iranian-backed group.
The coordinated attack with Iran changed the Israeli strategy
Until a few days ago, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to contain the escalation on the northern border to maintain its strategic focus on the confrontation with
Iran.
However, that calculation changed dramatically on Wednesday, when Hezbollah launched more than 200 missiles at Israel in a coordinated attack with Iran, which fired dozens of additional projectiles.
Smoke and flames rise after a strategic Israeli attack on terrorist facilities.
After that episode, a senior Israeli official stated that there is no longer room to negotiate an immediate truce. As he explained, before the attack, Israel was willing to discuss a ceasefire, but the joint offensive completely changed the military scenario.
Since the beginning of the conflict with Iran, the Israeli Army has maintained three armoured and infantry divisions deployed on the border with Lebanon, while in recent weeks some units have made limited incursions into Lebanese territory.
This Friday, the Israel Defense Forces announced the sending of additional reinforcements to the area and the mobilization of reservists in preparation for a larger-scale ground offensive.
The military objective, according to official sources, is to seize territory, push Hezbollah forces to the north and destroy military positions and weapons depots located in villages in the south of the country.
Regional tension and the displacement of civilians are growing
Explosions outside Beirut from a civilian perspective.
The Israeli Army issued evacuation orders in large areas of southern Lebanon and even in localities located north of the Litani River. Approximately 800,000 Lebanese civilians have been displaced since the start of the fighting and at least
773 people have died.
Meanwhile, the United States supports the Israeli objective of neutralizing Hezbollah, while pressing to limit damage to the Lebanese State and promote direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon to reach an agreement after the conflict.
