Israeli Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, urged his forces on Wednesday to prepare for a “potential entry” into Lebanon, signaling an escalation in the ongoing tensions.
In a video released by the Israeli military, Halevi addressed members of an Israeli armored brigade, saying, “You can hear the planes here. We are attacking all day long. The goal is to prepare the ground for your potential entry and to continue striking Hezbollah.”
He further stated, “This is to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue weakening Hezbollah.”
Halevi emphasized that airstrikes would persist with the dual purpose of destroying Hezbollah’s infrastructure and paving the way for a potential ground operation by Israeli forces. “We will not stop. We will continue attacking and hurting them everywhere,” he added.
He also noted, “To do this, we are preparing for maneuvering—a strong entry where you will confront Hezbollah fighters who will see what it means to face a professional, experienced combat force.”
“You are coming in much stronger than them, much more experienced than them. Enter and destroy the enemy there, and go to dismantle their infrastructure,” Halevi continued.
He also remarked, “These are the actions that will allow us to safely bring the residents of the north back later.”
The Israeli military announced it had called up two reserve brigades for “operational missions” in the north, where cross-border clashes with Hezbollah have been intensifying.
In a statement, the military said, “Based on the assessment of the situation, the Israeli army is calling up two reserve brigades for operational missions on the northern front.”
The statement added that this move “will allow us to continue fighting Hezbollah, defend the State of Israel, and create conditions to enable the residents of northern Israel to return to their homes.”
The statement did not specify details regarding the two brigades that were mobilized.
An Israeli infantry brigade typically consists of around 1,000 to 2,000 soldiers, while an armored tank brigade includes approximately 100 tanks.