Warming in the north: Very high vigilance in the defense establishment in light of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah's expected speech today. The tension was already felt yesterday, when sirens went off along the line of contact with Lebanon after dozens of rockets were fired into Israel.
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, photo: Arab networks
In response, the IDF announced that it had carried out a "broad attack" to destroy Hezbollah military targets. The airstrikes were carried out by fighter planes and helicopters, in parallel with artillery and tank fire. Among the targets attacked: military infrastructure and headquarters, infrastructure for directing terrorism, rocket launching positions, weapons depots and military compounds used by Hezbollah.
The missile hit Kiryat Shmona \\ Photo: The use is made in accordance with section 27A of the Copyright Law
Against the background of the high level of vigilance along the border, the IDF issued a lengthy statement yesterday dealing with the readiness of the forces on the northern border, in which it detailed defense efforts, training for a northern confrontation, and significant offensive activity in the border area. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevy warned yesterday: "The IDF operates less than half of the air force's force in the Gaza Strip. Most of the force is prepared and ready, with bombs on the wings and people ready to jump at any moment to the planes, to go out and attack in other arenas as well - as soon as necessary."
Preparing for capabilities, not intentions
The prevailing opinion in the defense establishment is that if Nasrallah wanted war with Israel, he would have already entered it. It is believed that Nasrallah fears that the scenes from Gaza will be restored in Beirut, and is also deterred by the American forces that have arrived in the area.
IDF forces on the Lebanese border, photo: Reuters
However, in light of the lessons of October 7, Israel is preparing according to Hezbollah's capabilities, not its intentions. Therefore, the IDF has significantly reinforced its forces along the border, and the Air Force is on very high alert for possible developments in the north.
Hamas-Iran-Hezbollah axis
The events of recent days indicate that the war is not between Israel and Hamas, but rather a war between Israel and the "axis" – i.e., Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and of course the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. However, at the start of the war, Defense Minister Yoav Galant asked a reservist general to examine in depth the question of whether the Hamas attack on 7 October was coordinated with Hezbollah. The team headed by that general reached a conclusion that will be presented later.
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