Israel prepares forces as conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon intensifies
- Israel’s military is putting in place measures for an escalation of fighting with Lebanon-based Hezbollah
- Exchanges of fire have flared between Israel and the Iran-backed group since the October 7 Hamas attack
Israel is stepping up preparations for a potential all-out war with Hezbollah, as the risk of a devastating new phase in the country’s conflict with Iran and its proxy militias grows more acute.
Israeli forces have been exchanging cross-border fire with the Lebanon-based group almost daily since the start of the campaign against Hamas in October, and is now putting in place measures that would enable an escalation of hostilities – if required.
Those include additional military exercises for ground, naval and aerial forces in the north of the country, according to the Israel Defence Forces.
Local leaders in the area have been briefed “on the processes to accelerate readiness for continued fighting,” the IDF said in a statement. Additional storage facilities are being installed to enable a quick and broad mobilisation of IDF troops to the front line, the armed forces said.
Israel said it struck about 40 sites linked to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, an escalation of hostilities after the militant group staged its deepest attack inside Israel the previous day.