IDF Strikes 3,000 Hezbollah Sites in Lebanon and Syria So Far

IDF Strikes 3,000 Hezbollah Sites in Lebanon and Syria So Far

Emmitt Barry

The threat of war continues unabated with the deployment of three troop divisions to the northern border, according to an announcement from the Israeli military on Saturday. Israel has issued a stark warning to Hezbollah, elaborating on strikes that, according to Israel, have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of terrorists attempting to destabilize the already tense border.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), made the unusual move of confirming numerous airstrikes in Syria targeting Hezbollah, stating that the IDF is striving to “alter the security landscape” along the northern border. This effort aims to facilitate the return of approximately 80,000 Israelis who have been displaced due to continuous assaults over several months.

Hagari said that the IDF will be “ready to attack immediately” if provoked, adding, “We do not choose war as our first priority, but we are certainly prepared.”

Hagari reported that since hostilities erupted on the northern border following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, the IDF has engaged over 3,400 Hezbollah positions and neutralized more than 150 terrorist cell groups, resulting in the deaths of approximately 200 terrorists, with the majority being Hezbollah members.

On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that any potential ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, currently under negotiation, would not extended to Hezbollah. This statement comes after Hezbollah ceased its attacks on Israel for a week in November, coinciding with a previous ceasefire.

“If Hezbollah thinks that when there’s a pause in fighting in the south, we will hold fire against it, it’s sorely mistaken,” Gallant stated.

“I say here explicitly: Until we reach a situation in which it’s possible to restore security for residents of the north, we will not stop. Whether we reach this through a [diplomatic] arrangement or military means, we will [restore] calm,” Galant said in a statement released through his office.

Senior Israeli leaders have consistently warned of the possibility of initiating a military campaign in Lebanon following the conclusion of operations against Hamas in Gaza. The objective of such a campaign would be to push Hezbollah back from the border, aligning with the goals of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the Second Lebanon War in 2006.