Israel plans ‘new ground war against Hezbollah’

Israel’s military has drawn up plans to invade southern Lebanon, risking a further escalation in the war in the Middle East and in the face of calls for restraint from its western allies, Report informs referring to The Times.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it wants to drive Hezbollah forces in the southern Lebanon north to the Litani River, a line of symbolic importance for both sides.

The two sides have been exchanging artillery and missile fire since the start of the war in Gaza in early October.

Initial fears that the conflict would spread more seriously to other fronts were lowered when Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, said the group would not launch a major offensive unless provoked or unless Hamas was on the verge of an overwhelming defeat.