JERUSALEM. Israel has officially declared halting Hezbollah’s attacks in the northern region as a key war objective, signaling a potential expansion of military operations in Lebanon. The announcement comes as tensions remain high and Israel weighs a broader conflict, a move that could escalate the ongoing hostilities into a regional war.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has been intensifying with nearly daily exchanges of fire since the Israel-Hamas war erupted almost a year ago. While Israel has responded to these attacks with airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions and eliminating key commanders, fears of a full-scale war have loomed large, especially after recent escalations.
During a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet late Monday, officials updated the nation’s war objectives to include the safe return of northern residents displaced by the violence. “Israel will continue to act to implement this objective,” the cabinet said in a statement.
This tougher stance reflects growing frustration within Israel’s leadership, as warnings of more extensive military action against Hezbollah have become louder in recent weeks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly been considering a significant leadership shake-up by replacing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with Gideon Saar, a more hawkish political figure. Such a move would represent the most dramatic shift in Israeli leadership since Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, which escalated the broader conflict.
The back-and-forth attacks between Israel and Hezbollah have displaced tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the Israeli-Lebanese border. Hezbollah has suggested it would cease its attacks if a ceasefire were reached in Gaza, but ongoing negotiations have repeatedly stalled.
The United States has urged caution, advising Israel to avoid widening the war. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein, who has been shuttling between Israel and Lebanon in an attempt to defuse tensions, recently met with Netanyahu. According to reports, Hochstein warned Netanyahu that expanding the conflict with Hezbollah could have significant repercussions, potentially sparking a prolonged regional war.
Hochstein reportedly conveyed that intensifying the conflict would not necessarily facilitate the return of displaced Israelis to their homes, stressing the need for a diplomatic solution. In response, Netanyahu acknowledged U.S. support but reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to “do what is necessary to safeguard its security.” “The residents cannot return without a fundamental change in the security situation in the north,” Netanyahu told Hochstein, according to a statement from his office.
Defense Minister Gallant also expressed concerns that the focus of the conflict is gradually shifting northwards. In discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Gallant warned that time is running out for reaching an agreement with Hezbollah, stating that “the trajectory is clear.”
While Hezbollah maintains that it does not seek a wider war, it has indicated readiness for one if Israel escalates. “We are prepared for confrontation,” said Raed Berro, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, “and we have much to deter the enemy and protect Lebanon should Netanyahu decide to expand the war.”
Lebanese leaders, meanwhile, have downplayed Israel’s rhetoric. Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah, dismissed the threats, remarking that the Lebanese have grown accustomed to Israel’s warnings, even if they have become “louder recently.”
The Israel-Hamas war, which began after Hamas launched a surprise attack in October, killing around 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages, has since claimed the lives of over 41,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has aligned itself with Hamas, launching strikes on Israeli and U.S. targets in solidarity with Palestinians.
Tensions have also escalated elsewhere in the region, with a missile from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels setting off air raid sirens in central Israel on Sunday. Israel has suggested it may respond militarily to such provocations.
With growing regional involvement, the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza remains elusive. The U.S., Qatar, and Egypt have spearheaded mediation efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, in exchange for a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Despite initial progress, negotiations have stalled, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of introducing new and unacceptable conditions.
As diplomatic efforts flounder, Israel’s focus shifts increasingly toward its northern front, with the potential for a broader and more destructive conflict on the horizon.
