Israel Says It Prepares for Ground Operation in Lebanon

Amidst escalating tensions, the Israeli military is preparing for a potential ground invasion of Lebanon it continues to change strikes with Hezbollah, The Associated Press reports.

Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, announced the preparations for a ground operation during a speech to troops on the northern border. He stated that the recent airstrikes conducted by Israel are intended to “prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah.”

The goal, according to Halevi, is to enable the safe return of displaced citizens of northern Israel to their homes.

The announcement follows a week of intense violence that has seen the highest death toll in Lebanon since the 2006 war with Israel. The Lebanese health minister reported over 50 deaths from the latest Israeli airstrikes, bringing the total death toll over the past three days to 615, with over 2,000 people wounded.

The escalation began when Hezbollah fired a surface-to-surface missile that triggered air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and across central Israel. While the missile was intercepted, the incident marked a significant escalation and prompted Israel to activate reserve troops.

Hezbollah has accused Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency of being behind a series of assassinations targeting its top commanders and a recent attack involving explosives concealed in pagers and walkie-talkies, which resulted in dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries.

The conflict comes as Israel continues its ongoing battle with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and as the region teeters on the brink of a wider war. Thousands of Lebanese civilians have been displaced, seeking refuge in shelters, cars, parks, and along the beach. The United Nations estimates that over 90,000 people have been displaced by the five days of Israeli strikes, adding to the 200,000 already displaced since Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel last year.