Peter Lerner, the spokesperson for the Israeli occupation army, stated that the “Israeli army is preparing for potential ground operations in Lebanon, but will only proceed if deemed necessary.”
In an interview with CNN, he added that “Israeli Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, discussed this option with the reserve forces earlier this week.”
Lerner clarified that “the primary goal of the Israeli army regarding Hezbollah is to restore security and stability in northern Israel, allowing 60,000 Israelis, who were evacuated from the area, to return to their homes.”
On the topic of assassinating Hassan Nasrallah, Lerner noted that “the Israeli army targeted him because he was amassing a vast arsenal of weapons,” including 200,000 rockets, missiles, and drones, solely for the purpose of waging war against Israel.”
He continued by saying, “Israel has been conducting intensive intelligence surveillance since 2006 to understand Hezbollah,” explaining that “Israel carried out airstrikes before and after Nasrallah’s death, which resulted in the elimination of a senior intelligence official and strategic Hezbollah assets.”
Meanwhile, a senior American official confirmed to ABC News that “Israel is preparing for a ground invasion in southern Lebanon.”
According to the official, “Israel rejected the European Union’s ceasefire proposal in any form, even if it was brief, aiming to launch its ground military operation in southern Lebanon.”
The official also indicated that “Israel seeks to take advantage of the confusion among the remaining Hezbollah leaders, who are concerned about the presence of spies within their ranks.”
Yesterday, the Israeli occupation army announced the imposition of a military blockade on Lebanon to prevent “Hezbollah” from rearming through Syria and Iran.
Earlier, Israeli media reported on the army’s preparations to escalate the campaign against “Hezbollah,” highlighting the likelihood of a ground operation in Lebanon.
The Hebrew website Walla stated that “the northern command of the Israeli army continues to train ground forces, and several drills simulating combat in the northern arena were conducted recently.” The site added that “these recent measures bring the Israeli army one step closer to conducting a ground maneuver in southern Lebanon to ward off threats to Israel’s home front.”