Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that the country is moving toward a “new phase” of the war in Gaza, and that attention is now turning to the border with Lebanon, where in recent days hundreds of Hezbollah communications devices have exploded, injuring thousands and killing around twenty.
“I think we are at the dawn of a new phase of this war and we must adapt,” the minister said during a visit to air troops at the Ramat David base in the north of the country, in statements reported by the Israeli Press.
This is the latest in a series of warnings issued in recent days by Israeli authorities to Hezbollah, a group with which they have had intense exchanges of fire since October 8 that have forced evacuate more than 60,000 residents communities in the north of the country.
For his part, the Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli army, Herzi Halevi, held a meeting today with the head of the Northern Command and approved “Attack and defense plans” in the northamid escalating tensions, the armed forces said in a statement. “We have many capabilities that we have not yet activated,” the official said, adding that “the next two phases are already prepared and in each phase the price for Hezbollah is expected to be high.”
Last Tuesday, Gallant already said that with his “missions” in Gaza almost accomplished, Israel’s focus was shifting. now on the border with Lebanon. This Wednesday, the minister clarified that “the center of gravity” is moving northand that the army is transferring forces and resources to the region. His visit to the air base comes on the same day that Israeli forces decided to transfer an army division that had been fighting in the Gaza Strip to the north of the country.
“We will need consistency over time. This war requires a “lots of courage, determination and perseverance”Gallant stressed, specifying that the country has not “forgotten” the Israeli hostages who still remain captive in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has not officially acknowledged responsibility for the explosions in Lebanon, something common in such cases, but the Lebanese group has already warned that it will retaliate. On Monday evening, Israeli authorities decided to officially include the return of 60,000 displaced residents to their homes in the north of the country among the objectives of the war.
