IDF chief: 'We are preparing for offensive moves' in Lebanon

IDF Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi announced that the military was working toward reducing Hezbollah's offensive capabilities during a situational assessment and tour at the 210th Division on the border of the Golan Heights on Friday, the IDF stated.

Halevi attended the border alongside the Commanding Officer of the Northern Command, MG Ori Gordin, the Commanding Officer of the 210th Division, BG Yair Peli, and additional commanders.

During this assessment, the military officials detailed both offensive and defensive actions, including enhancing the barrier and components of intelligence gathering.

"The IDF is very focused on combat with Hezbollah. I think that the number of strikes in the past month, operatives eliminated, rockets and infrastructure destroyed, is very high," Halevi said.  "The Northern Command, with all of the IDF's capabilities, is striking a lot of Hezbollah's capabilities in Lebanon before they can attack us, and at the same time, we are preparing for offensive moves within the arena.

"I think that this combination of very significant strikes on Hezbollah to reduce the threats to the residents in the north, including in the Golan Heights, is very, very significant together with readiness for an offensive going forward that we are very engaged in."

Preparing for Hezbollah

Soldiers from the 11th Battalion completed a multi-day military exercise aimed at ensuring combat readiness in northern Israel, the IDF announced on Friday.

The soldiers trained in combat and maneuver scenarios across various terrains, including dense forests and mountainous areas, while under simulated fire.

As part of this exercise, the military added that the soldiers practiced scenarios for evacuating wounded from the battlefield during live fire.

Preparing soldiers for the Northern Front

The National Center for Ground Training has led similar exercises throughout the war, as Hezbollah has become an increasing threat on Israel’s northern front. 

Each of the 11th Battalion soldiers conducted the exercise after spending a period conducting operations in the Gaza Strip, where they saw to the elimination to the elimination of terrorists and the destruction of Hamas infrastructure, the IDF noted.

The military has held similar exercises. In December, the IDF prepared soldiers for the possibility of combat in Lebanon. 

Only three weeks ago, the Israel Navy conducted training in the North.

Hezbollah's increasing threats to Israel

The Lebanon-based Iran-backed terror group has been launching aerial attacks against Israel since the war began in October 2023, when Hamas invaded central Israel and murdered some 1200 people.  

In August, the terror group had planned to launch a mass aerial attack but was mostly thwarted by IAF pre-emptive strikes on its launchers. Despite this, the terror group fired rockets at civilian populations in northern and central Israel.

The mass attack had reportedly been the 'first phase' of a response planned by Iran, as Tehran held Israel accountable for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Israel has neither denied nor accepted responsibility for Haniyeh's death.