Israel plans offensive against Lebanon’s Hezbollah

• Published On: 26 July 2024 at 16:54

An Israeli military commander said Friday that troops in the country's north were prepared for "a decisive offensive" against Lebanon's Hezbollah following months of deadly cross-border clashes.

Israeli soldiers have exchanged nearly daily fire with Hamas ally Hezbollah since the Palestinian terrorist group's October 7 strike on southern Israel sparked the continuing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Major General Ori Gordin, Israel's commanding officer in the north, told troops that "we have already eliminated more than 500 terrorists in Lebanon, the vast majority of whom were Hezbollah members," according to an army statement.

According to the AFP, more than nine months of violence have killed at least 523 people in Lebanon.


The majority of them (342 persons) have been verified to be Hezbollah fighters.

However, the tally includes 104 civilians. Gordin did not mention civilian casualties.

The military has reported that at least 18 Israeli soldiers and 13 civilians have been killed in northern Israel.


The fighting has been primarily limited to border areas, displacing tens of thousands of Lebanese and Israeli people.

Gordin said that the Israeli force had "destroyed thousands" of sites across the border.

According to the statement, troops are currently preparing "for the transition to offence."

"When the moment comes and we go on the offensive, it will be a decisive offensive," Gordin declared.

Iran-backed Hezbollah claims it is supporting Hamas' attacks on Israel since October 8.

The growing violence and failed mediation efforts have fuelled worries of a full-fledged warfare between Israel and Hezbollah, which last fought in 2006.

Israel has asked that sections of southern Lebanon be freed of Hezbollah militants in accordance with a UN Security Council agreement that concluded the 2006 conflict.