Israeli Army Announces Expansion of Offensive Against Lebanon, Advancing Ground Operations
Xinhua News Agency, Jerusalem, March 22 (Reporter Wang Zhuolun, Pang Xinyi) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement on the 22nd, saying that IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi approved the expansion of military operations in Lebanon on the 21st, including advancing ground operations within Lebanese territory.
The statement quoted Halevi as saying that actions against Hezbollah "have only just begun," and the IDF is preparing to advance ground operations according to the established plan and is ready for long-term operations.
The statement also mentioned that any threat to Israeli civilians will be met with a response. The two battlefields of Iran and Lebanon are interconnected. After military operations against Iran conclude, Hezbollah will be "isolated and unsupported."
The United States and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran on February 28. As Iran's main regional ally, Hezbollah began launching rockets into northern Israel on the evening of March 2, while Israel conducted intense airstrikes on areas such as the Lebanese capital Beirut and initiated small-scale ground operations in southern Lebanon. Data released by Lebanon on the 20th indicated that since the resumption of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have resulted in 1,021 deaths, 2,641 injuries, and over 1 million people displaced.
The Israeli Defense Forces announced an expansion of military operations in Lebanon on March 22, 2023, including ground actions approved by IDF Chief of Staff. The operations are aimed at Hezbollah, with the IDF stating that actions against the group have just begun. Since the conflict reignited, over 1021 people have died, 2641 have been injured, and more than 1 million have been displaced.
- Israeli Defense Forces expanded operations in Lebanon on March 22, 2023.
- IDF Chief of Staff approved ground operations against Hezbollah.
- Over 1021 people have died and 2641 have been injured since the conflict reignited.
- More than 1 million people have been displaced due to the conflict.
- The military actions are linked to ongoing operations against Iran.