Israel has mobilized two reserve brigades for deployment to its northern border as tensions with the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah continue to escalate. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the move on Wednesday, citing the need for additional operational forces in the region, which has faced almost daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah.
The reserve units, comprising several thousand soldiers, will bolster Israel’s ability to counter Hezbollah and protect northern communities, many of which have been evacuated due to ongoing shelling. The decision follows intensified Israeli airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah’s rocket sites, which the group uses to attack Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.
Although Israel’s leadership has hinted at the possibility of a ground offensive in Lebanon, so far, military action has been limited to airstrikes. IDF Northern Command chief Major General Ori Gordin stated that troops must be prepared for maneuvers inside Lebanon, as the conflict has entered a new phase of operations aimed at significantly weakening Hezbollah’s capabilities.
The security situation will be further discussed at a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the U.S. to attend the UN General Assembly.
