Israeli political and defense officials ramped up their rhetoric indicating the IDF would be pivoting its efforts toward the northern border in a “new phase” of the war, amid escalating tensions with Hezbollah following widespread attacks on Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon attributed to Israel, Report informs via The Times of Israel.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF chief Herzi Halevi and other officials all issued statements that appeared to suggest a full-on war with Hezbollah was brewing, hours after a wave of explosions of walkie-talkies and other communications devices used by Hezbollah members across Lebanon caused widespread casualties, echoing a similar attack a day earlier that targeted Hezbollah-issued pagers.
The IDF also announced that it was redeploying its 98th Division to northern Israel, after months of operations in the Gaza Strip under the Southern Command.
“The center of gravity is moving north. We are diverting forces, resources, and energy toward the north,” Gallant told Israeli Air Force personnel at the Ramat David Airbase in remarks published by his office.
During more than 11 months of fighting Hamas in Gaza, Israel has also been exchanging near-daily cross-border fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, although it has largely avoided escalating to an all-out war, as it focused its efforts on the south. Nevertheless, 26 civilians in Israel and 20 IDF soldiers have been killed in Hezbollah attacks near the northern border, while more than 450 Hezbollah members have been reported killed, as have more than 100 civilians in Lebanon.