Army Chief said to okay plans for a war on the ‘northern front’
April 2, 2024
Israeli Army Chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi has reportedly signed off on a plan to launch a major war on the country’s northern front with Lebanon. This comes amid growing escalation of Israeli attacks and a palpable sense that diplomatic efforts are not gaining much momentum in avoiding the conflict.
Lt. Gen. Halevi had ordered plans prepared last month, and reportedly held an assessment with northern commander Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin in which they both decided that the plan was appropriate.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is reportedly having his staff work on various proposals for gearing up the general public for an “all-out” military conflict with Hezbollah, and ominously enough, for the possibility of war with Iran.
The goal, according to reports, is to “raise awareness” of the possibility of a war, even if one is not imminent, and “Not to panic, but to raise awareness.” Israel Home Front Command has long been preparing for sheltering civilians in the north in the event the conflict breaks out.
Embarking on a PR campaign to raise awareness about a northern war in Lebanon signals further escalation on the road to war. The public is being advised of upcoming conflict.
DM Gallant is reportedly interested in making this campaign work quickly but is also worried about how Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah might react if Israel starts raising awareness for the invasion into Lebanon’s south.
Nasrallah has long downplayed the threat of an Israeli invasion, saying he does not believe Israel is prepared for another full-scale war in Lebanon while it is in the middle of a war in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media regularly discusses the possibility, if not outright inevitability, of a full-bore conflict in Lebanon. With very recent Israeli strikes against UN observer teams in southern Lebanon and on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria, war looms closer than ever.
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