Security escalation

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held a multi-front assessment and ordered heightened readiness for an additional division in the West Bank ahead of the holidays. "We are at a high level of alert in the face of volatility on multiple fronts."

Arab media say Hezbollah, frustrated after failing to slow IDF operations, is threatening a return to 1980s-style tactics and may deploy suicide bombers against Israeli troops.