IDF Signals Coming Conflict with Lebanon

In an interview with Newsweek, an unnamed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official signaled that Tel Aviv was seeking a larger conflict with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The IDF and Hezbollah have traded fire along the Israeli-Lebanese border since October 7, killing scores of people. A larger conflict could draw the US in on the side of Israel. 

An IDF official told Newsweek, “We will not return to the situation that was on the 6th of October in the north. It means we will not allow our civilians neither in the Gaza envelope nor on the Lebanese border to be under this threat.” 

The official said the focus is Gaza, but the IDF is ready to fight against Lebanon. “We are prepared for that. We are on alert for that. We have the people, the personnel that is exactly ready for that, but we don’t want to do that yet.”