The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are signaling an imminent major ground operation into Lebanon, with leadership preparing forces for a potential confrontation with Hezbollah. On September 25, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi informed Israeli troops that the current Israeli air campaign in Lebanon is “preparing the area for the possibility of [Israeli forces’] entry.”
Halevi emphasized that the IDF is ready for maneuver operations that could involve Israeli forces advancing into Hezbollah-controlled towns and villages, which the militant group has turned into “military outposts.” He made these statements during a training exercise with the 7th Armored Brigade near the Israel-Lebanon border.
The 7th Armored Brigade is one of several units that have recently been deployed to Israel’s northern border. Similarly, Major General Ori Gordin, commander of the IDF Northern Command, remarked on September 24 that Israeli forces must be “strongly prepared” for a ground offensive against Hezbollah. Gordin stated that the IDF’s campaign has already begun by targeting Hezbollah’s rocket capabilities and command-and-control infrastructure and is now entering a new phase.
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Both Halevi and Gordin delivered these messages directly to IDF service members as the military activated reservist units. On September 25, the IDF called up two reservist brigades—the 6th Infantry Brigade (36th Division) and the 228th Infantry Brigade (146th Division)—to bolster the ongoing fight against Hezbollah.
These brigades join several other IDF units, including the 98th Division, that have been deployed to the northern border in recent days.
The commander of the 7th Armored Brigade recently published a letter stating that his unit is ready to “lead the IDF in the northern arena,” further indicating the military’s preparedness for a possible ground invasion into Lebanon.
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