Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that his army “will act very soon” in Northern Israel along the border with Lebanon, where daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah are occurring.
Gallant informed soldiers stationed near the Gaza border that other forces currently deployed in the Palestinian territory will leave the area to be redeployed in Northern Israel.
He stated, “They will move very soon… Thus, forces in the North will be reinforced.”
Gallant mentioned that reserve soldiers would leave their positions in preparation for these future operations.
Since the war between Hamas and Israel began in Gaza in October, the border between Southern Lebanon and Northern Israel has witnessed almost daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, which asserts its actions are in “support and solidarity” with the Palestinian movement.
On Monday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for 12 attacks on Israeli military positions near the border using Iranian-made “Falaq 1” rockets.
On Monday evening, the Israeli military announced it had conducted strikes against Hezbollah in response, targeting “facilities and an observation post in the Lebanese villages of Markaba, Taybeh, and Maroun al-Ras.”
The military also confirmed several projectiles were fired from Lebanon, responding by “targeting the launch sites and other locations in Lebanon.”
Earlier this month, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army, General Herzi Halevi, stated that the likelihood of a war “in the coming months” in the North of the country had “increased significantly” compared to the past.
Since the escalation began, more than two hundred people have been killed in Lebanon, according to a tally by Agence France-Presse. On the Israeli side of the border, 15 people have been killed, including nine soldiers and six civilians, according to the Israeli military.
On Monday, Gallant confirmed that Hamas fighters lack supplies and ammunition, but the war will continue for several more months.
The war between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7 due to an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing 1,140 people, mostly civilians, with the majority dying on the first day, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel responded to the worst attack in its history with an aerial and ground campaign in Gaza, vowing to eliminate Hamas. The campaign resulted in 26,637 deaths, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
