Israel is ready for an offensive along the northern border with Lebanon and is close to making a decision about it, the chief of the general staff said, while the movement “Hezbollah“ stated that it does not seek to expand the conflict, but is ready to fight any war that is imposed on it, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The conflict between "Hezbollah“ and Israel's parallel war in Gaza has intensified in recent days, raising fears that an even wider confrontation between the heavily armed adversaries could take place.
Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Army Herzi Halevi said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is ready to go on the offensive in the northern part of the country.
"We are ready after a very good training process up to the level of the General Staff exercise to proceed to an offensive in the northern part of the country," he said in a recorded statement. “We are approaching the point of making such a decision.“
The hostilities between Israel and "Hezbollah" are the worst since they went to war in 2006, and tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border have been forced to flee their homes.
Hezbollah, which is an ally of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, says it is striking Israel in support of Palestinians under Israeli bombardment in Gaza. It has previously stated that it will cease fire when the Israeli offensive in Gaza stops.
The deputy leader of "Hezbollah" Sheikh Naim Qassem told "Al Jazeera" that the group's decision is not to expand the war, but it will wage one if forced upon it.