Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Saturday approved plans to deepen military operations in Lebanon during a meeting with the General Staff Forum and senior commanders in the northern sector. Zamir sent a stark message to Hezbollah: “The campaign against Hezbollah has only just begun—this is a prolonged campaign and we are ready for it.”
During the discussion, the chief of staff emphasized the tight connection between the northern fighting and the main effort against Iran. “The terror organization Hezbollah is a central arm of the Iranian terror regime, and made a grave mistake when it chose to join the campaign against Israel,” Zamir said. “The message is clear: there is no safe place for the regime and its proxies. Any threat to Israeli citizens will be met with a determined response.”
Zamir reviewed the significant achievements of Israeli forces in recent weeks, which included striking over 2,000 targets, destroying dozens of weapons depots, and eliminating hundreds of terrorists. According to him, the IDF is now preparing to deepen ground operations and strikes in Lebanon according to an orderly plan, with the goal of pushing the threat back from the border and ensuring long-term security for northern residents.
“We won’t stop until the threat is pushed back from the border,” the chief of staff pledged. “Alongside the strikes, the IDF is strengthening the forward defense line to protect northern residents. We are prepared for a long campaign and will continue to operate as long as necessary—in offense and defense—to ensure the security of northern residents over time.”