Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced that Israel has entered a state of high alert, confirming the approval of additional operational plans to continue the fighting. This comes amid a simultaneous escalation on the Lebanese and Iranian fronts, with ongoing field assessments and rapid operational decisions being made.
Zamir’s remarks came during a field visit he made to the 162nd Division in southern Lebanon, where he met with senior commanders and was briefed on the course of combat operations firsthand, at a time when the scope of the clashes is widening and the intensity of the confrontations is increasing, especially in Bint Jbeil, which has become a major flashpoint.
The Chief of Staff explained that, in coordination with the General Staff, he had approved plans for continued operations, emphasizing that the Israeli army is continuously assessing the situation and approving new targets in both Lebanon and Iran. He added that a joint operation with US forces had dealt a "powerful blow" to the Iranian regime, which he said had weakened it and stripped it of its defensive capabilities. He warned against allowing Iran to achieve any gains, whether regarding its nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, or any other issues.
Zamir emphasized that the army is at the highest level of readiness, noting that the air force is in a state of full preparedness, with aircraft armed and targets pre-loaded within targeting systems, enabling immediate strikes when orders are issued.
Regarding the Lebanese front, he said that operations against Hezbollah are ongoing as part of a multi-pronged effort, noting that more than 1700 Hezbollah members have been killed since the start of the operation, which he described as a severe blow to its military infrastructure. He indicated that fighting continues in Bint Jbeil, with the 98th Division working to dismantle threats, while the 162nd Division is securing the Beit Leef area, in addition to the deployment of forces from three other divisions to establish what he called a "forward defense" zone.
He also announced instructions to consider all of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River as a restricted area for Hezbollah elements, in a move that reflects a trend to expand field control and impose a new security reality in the region.
In response, Hezbollah escalated its operations, issuing 18 military statements by the time of this report regarding attacks targeting Israeli army positions and troop concentrations. The party stated that its fighters targeted a gathering of vehicles and soldiers on the northern outskirts of Bint Jbeil with a rocket barrage on Tuesday evening, before repeating the attack after midnight. It then launched a series of intense strikes between 00:25 a.m. and 15:20 p.m. on Wednesday, firing ten successive volleys of rockets at various locations within the city.
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