Israel is gearing up for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon as tensions escalate in its ongoing war with Hezbollah, according to statements from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Herzi Halevi, Israel’s chief of the General Staff, confirmed on Wednesday that Israel is preparing for ground maneuvers. “We are not stopping; we keep striking and hitting them everywhere,” Halevi said.
He emphasized that the operation’s goal is to ensure the safe return of residents to northern Israel by targeting Hezbollah’s military outposts, including underground infrastructures and staging points.
In addition to these preparations, Israel continued its aggressive air campaign, conducting “extensive strikes” across southern Lebanon and the Begaa region east of Beirut. The Israeli army reported striking 260 targets on Wednesday alone.
The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported at least 636 deaths, including over 50 children, and more than 1,700 injured in Israeli strikes since Monday. The strikes have displaced over 90,000 people in Lebanon in just five days, with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib warning that the number of displaced could approach 500,000 if the conflict continues.
Israel has called up thousands of troops to its northern border in preparation for further escalation. Bou Habib, however, stressed that the war in Lebanon “will not help the Israelis return to their homes,” calling for negotiations as the only viable solution.
