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Israel is preparing for a major escalation in its conflict with Hezbollah, with plans for a large-scale ground invasion of southern Lebanon aimed at uprooting the Iran-backed militant group from border areas, according to reports citing Israeli and U.S. officials.
The operation, described as “massive” in scope, would seek to capture and hold the entire territory south of the Litani River—a key geographical divide in Lebanon—and dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, including weapons depots, tunnels, and launch positions embedded in villages. Senior Israeli officials likened the approach to Israel’s operations in Gaza, emphasizing the destruction of fortified structures used for storing arms and launching attacks.
“We are going to do what we did in Gaza,” one senior Israeli official told Axios, as reported by The Times of Israel on March 14, 2026. The goal, the official explained, is to “take over territory, push Hezbollah’s forces north and away from the border, and dismantle its military positions and weapons depots in the villages.”
The shift toward a full invasion follows Hezbollah’s large-scale rocket barrage on northern Israel on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, involving over 200 projectiles. That assault, coordinated with simultaneous Iranian missile strikes, marked a significant intensification. Israeli officials stated that prior to the attack, they had been open to a ceasefire in Lebanon to prioritize the broader confrontation with Iran. However, the barrage changed the calculus irrevocably.
“Before this attack we were ready for a ceasefire in Lebanon, but after it there is no way back from a massive operation,” another senior Israeli official told Axios, per The Times of Israel coverage.
In response to the heightened threat, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered broad reinforcements to the Northern Command on Friday, including the 98th Division with brigade-level combat teams and engineering units. Reserve forces from the 252nd Division are being mobilized to relieve standing units shifting north, while some reserve battalions in the Central Command have had service extended.
The Israel Defense Forces have issued repeated evacuation warnings to civilians in southern Lebanon, urging them to move north of the Litani River to avoid harm amid anticipated operations. The military has accused Hezbollah of using populated areas, medical facilities, and even ambulances for military purposes, warning that such exploitation violates international norms and could lead to strikes on those sites.
Recent actions underscore the momentum toward escalation. On Friday, the IDF struck a bridge over the Litani River near Zrarieh and Tayr Falsay, describing it as a “key crossing” Hezbollah used to shuttle fighters, prepare attacks, and endanger both Israeli and Lebanese civilians. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that this was “only the beginning,” vowing increasing damage to Lebanese national infrastructure exploited by Hezbollah until the group is disarmed south of the Litani—as required under prior ceasefire terms but not fully implemented.
“We feel we have full US backing for this operation,” an Israeli official told Axios. U.S. officials expressed support for measures to halt Hezbollah shelling but urged Israel to avoid targeting key civilian infrastructure like Beirut’s international airport. Israel has agreed to spare the airport but will consult on other sites case-by-case.
Diplomatic channels remain open amid the military buildup. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assigned confidant Ron Dermer to handle Lebanon-related talks. The Trump administration, through envoy Massad Boulos, is reportedly pushing for broader negotiations to formally end the state of war between Israel and Lebanon.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, in a televised address on Friday, declared the group prepared for a prolonged “existential battle,” vowing to surprise Israel on the battlefield. The militant group continued rocket and drone attacks into Saturday, triggering sirens in northern Israeli communities.
The planned invasion would represent Israel’s most significant ground operation in Lebanon since the 2006 Second Lebanon War. It builds on limited incursions following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the subsequent multi-front war, where Israeli forces previously cleared border villages of Hezbollah tunnels and fortifications. A 2024 ceasefire had required Hezbollah’s disarmament south of the Litani, but Israel deemed compliance insufficient.
As strikes persist—including IDF footage released Saturday showing the destruction of a Hezbollah rocket depot in Majadel—tensions show no sign of abating. Lebanese health authorities reported civilian and medical casualties from recent Israeli actions in southern Lebanon, while the IDF maintains its focus on neutralizing threats to northern Israeli residents.
