Israel evaluates probability of military operation in Lebanon
Photo: Chief of the Israel Defense Forces General Staff in training (idfanc.activetrail.biz)
Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Herzi Halevi, has announced an increased likelihood of full-scale military operations in Lebanon, according to the IDF press service.
Currently, training for reservists is underway in northern Israel under the guidance of the Land Forces Training Center.
"We are in a time of increasing readiness for fighting in Lebanon. We have a lot of lessons from the fighting in Gaza, many of which are very relevant to fighting in Lebanon, and there are some that must be adapted," said Lieutenant General Halevi.
According to him, the Israeli side aims to achieve a "very clear goal in Lebanon - this is to return the residents to the north, all of the communities in the north."
"We understand that this must come through a very significant change... I don't know when the war in the north is, I can tell you that the likelihood of it happening in the coming months is much higher than it was in the past," noted the representative of the Israeli General Staff.
The general added that the Israeli army has gained more confidence in its capabilities and acquired "great experience, capabilities, surprises that can be achieved progress."
"What remains is to train seriously, a strong spirit of the people, and when we need to, we will go forward at full strength," he said.
Israel's relations with Lebanon and clashes with Hezbollah
Recall that Hezbollah militants have repeatedly attempted to strike Israel from Lebanese territory. This occurred after Israel initiated a war against Hamas.
Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country is ready to start a war with Hezbollah.
It was also reported that on January 8, in southern Lebanon, a senior commander of Hezbollah, Radwan, was killed as a result of an Israeli strike.
Earlier, on January 6, Israeli forces launched a series of strikes in southern Lebanon after about 40 rockets were fired into northern Israel early in the morning.
On December 20 of the previous year, Israeli Defense Forces fighters attacked Hezbollah's operational command center in Lebanon.
Also, at the end of last year, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned Hezbollah that the IDF would take measures to push militants away from the border with Lebanon if the attacks did not cease.
