IDF Chief Approves Expanded Operations in Lebanon, Warns: "The fight with Hezbollah has only just begun"

The IDF spokesperson said this evening (Sunday) that Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir yesterday held a meeting to approve plans to deepen the maneuver in Lebanon. The meeting included members of the General Staff Forum, division commanders, and brigade commanders operating in the northern sector.

Zamir noted: "Iran is our primary effort, and the northern arena is another central front. They are intertwined. The terrorist organization Hezbollah serves as a main arm of the Iranian terror regime and made a grave mistake when it chose to join the campaign against Israel. That choice harms it and the state of Lebanon as a whole. The message is clear: there is no safe place for the regime and its proxies; any threat against Israeli civilians will be met with a resolute, precise, and forceful response."

The chief of staff added: "In recent weeks we have achieved significant results: we struck more than 2,000 targets, dozens of weapons depots, and eliminated hundreds of terrorists. The campaign against Hezbollah has only just begun—once the campaign in Iran concludes, Hezbollah will be left alone and isolated. This is a prolonged campaign, and we are prepared for it."

"Now we are preparing to deepen the maneuver and the strikes, according to a set plan. We will not stop until the threat is pushed back from the border and long-term security is assured for residents of the north. Alongside the strikes, the IDF is reinforcing the forward defensive line to protect residents of the north. We are ready for a long campaign and will continue to act as needed—offensively and defensively—to ensure the long-term security of the north's residents."