Israeli Military Plans Strikes on Hezbollah as Lebanon Reports New Casualties
A senior Israeli official rejects transferring control to the Lebanese army, while Lebanon reports dozens of casualties from Israeli strikes amid ongoing border tensions.
Watan-A senior Israeli military official stated that he does not recommend transferring control to the Lebanese army until it can establish better authority over the region. Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities reported new casualty figures from Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.
According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the official revealed that the Israeli army is planning a series of operations targeting Hezbollah compounds near towns in the Galilee Panhandle, at the northernmost point of Israel near the Lebanese border.
He added that Israeli forces remain deployed in Lebanese border villages to protect northern Israeli residents. The army has established military outposts along the northern border and aims to set up a post between each town and the border wall.
The official also disclosed that the military seeks to establish a system ensuring a rapid response to any potential threats Hezbollah might reestablish.
New Casualty Figures
The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that 36 people were injured in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Tuesday. Additionally, the Lebanese army confirmed that one soldier and three civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire.
Since Sunday, dozens of Lebanese civilians have been killed or injured by Israeli forces as they attempted to return to their border villages following the expiration of the 60-day withdrawal deadline for Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.
While Israel has refused to complete its withdrawal, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that Lebanon has agreed to extend the ceasefire arrangements until February 18, ensuring that Israel has no excuse to avoid a full withdrawal from all Lebanese territory.
