Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
Clashes raged in southern Lebanon, the heartland of Hezbollah, on March 14, a day after a report by Axios revealed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is planning to invade the region “like Gaza”.
The report, which cited Israeli and American officials, said that Israel is planning to launch a “massive” ground invasion of southern Lebanon in order to push Hezbollah away from the border line and destroy all of its weapons stores and positions.
“We are going to do what we did in Gaza,” a senior Israeli official told Axios, referring to the destruction of buildings and tunnels that Hezbollah uses to store its weapons and launch strikes.
“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 official said.
The official said that Israel had largely been trying to contain the situation in Lebanon and focus on Iran, but that had changed after Hezbollah launched more than 200 rockets at northern Israel on March 11 in an attack that was coordinated with the Islamic Republic, which fired missiles at the same time.
The group resumed attacks against Israel right after the start of the war on Iran, ending a ceasefire in Lebanon that was brokered by the United States more than 15 months ago.
“Before this attack we were ready for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but after it there is no way back from a massive operation,” a senior Israeli official told the site.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, ordered — on the same day Axios published its report — a “broad reinforcement” of troops in the Northern Command, “as part of strengthening readiness for various offensive and defensive scenarios,” according to a military statement.
The deployment will include forces from the standing army, including the elite 98th Paratroopers Division with two brigade-level combat teams and combat engineering battalions.
Battles between the IDF and Hezbollah raged in southern Lebanon on March 14, mainly in the strategic town of Khiam and nearby areas.
In separate statements released throughout the day, the group said that it hit multiple main battle tanks of the IDF, and targeted several gatherings of Israeli troops. The IDF, from its side, launched intense strikes, targeting southern Lebanon, where 19 people were reportedly killed, in addition to the Hezbollah stronghold of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Lebanon’s health ministry said the death toll from Israeli attacks in the country since the start of the fighting has risen to 826, with 2,009 people wounded. From its side Israel has so far lost just two soldiers.
A full-on invasion could be very costly for the IDF, as Hezbollah is still well-armed and appears to be determined to fight back at all costs.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said on March 13 that his group was ready for a long confrontation with Israel. “We have prepared ourselves for a long confrontation, and God willing, they [Israelis] will be surprised on the battlefield,” Qassem said in his second televised address since the latest war began.
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slava bibi
whichever part of joo hell he and gvir are currently occupying. the jooz obviously enjoyed their little excursion into lebanon from 1982-2000 so much that they want a 2nd helping. rest assured, hezb will give them its traditional very warm welcome. the amerikunt marines seem to be at a loose end at the moment. maybe they will join in soon to provide an even more target rich environment.