Israel is preparing for a ground offensive in Lebanon, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Islamist political party, and its allies are also currently bracing for a ground assault, amassing a large army of militia troops, according to Israeli media.
Since the October 7 Hamas attack, the cross-border conflict between Israel and Lebanon has been escalating. It culminated in exploding pager and walkie talkie attacks against members of Hezbollah last week that killed more than 30 people and wounded thousands. Israeli launched airstrikes across Lebanon this week.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), “The IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] has observed around 40,000 Iranian-backed Iraqi, Syrian, and Houthi militants concentrate around the Syrian border with the Golan Heights, according to Israeli media.”
The research group and think tank said that it is unclear why and when these militants were deployed, and if they will be integrated into Hezbollah’s current structure.
The ISW also reported that “IRGC [Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] officers and Iranian-backed Iraqi militia leaders recently met in Deir ez-Zor Province and discussed how to ‘ease pressure’ on Hezbollah,” according to a Syrian news outlet’s report.
Since the airstrikes began on Monday, more than 500 people have died in Lebanon and over 90,000 have been displaced, according to the United Nations.
Israel’s army chief recently said that the military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon.
Following Hezbollah missile strikes on central Israel, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said, “Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves,” according to Time Magazine.
Members of Hezbollah carry the coffins of their commanders Ibrahim Kobeisi and Hussein Ezzedine in Beirut on September 25. The Lebanese militant group is reportedly preparing for further conflict with Israel and foreign militia forces have been seen gathering.
Hassan Ammar/Associated Press
Newsweek has reached out to the IDF for comment via email.
The IDF has also called in reserve brigades to further prepare for any upcoming conflict with Hezbollah.
Halevi’s comment was soon followed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s statement that his country will “continue fighting with full force” in Lebanon, despite calls from the West for a ceasefire, according to Forbes.
In response to the continued airstrikes, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country is “facing a blatant violation of our sovereignty and human rights through the brutal practices of the Israeli enemy,” according to the BBC.
The Iran-backed political group launched counterstrikes following Israel’s exploding pagers, walkie talkies attacks and this week’s airstrikes, as they have fired missiles into central and Northern Israel this week, aiming to hit the headquarters of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad.
Hezbollah was estimated to have 50,000 armed combatants this year, according to the CIA World Factbook, as reported by The New York Times.
Experts claim that the political group also has possibly the largest arsenal of weapons of any armed group in the world, apart from national armed forces, including approximately 150,000 rockets and missiles, according to the Times.
Iran supplies Hezbollah’s weapons that may include anti-tank, anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, drones, and land attack rockets and missiles.
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