Israel closing in on ‘decision point’ in war against Hezbollah, IDF chief warns

Israel is getting closer to deciding whether to go to war against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi stated on Tuesday while touring the northern border. Hezbollah attacks have resulted in large areas being burned over the past several days.

“We are approaching the point where a decision will have to be made, and the IDF is prepared and very ready for this decision,” Halevi said.

“We have been attacking here for eight months and Hezbollah is paying a very, very high price. It has intensified its attacks in recent days, and we are prepared after a very good process of training up to the level of the general staff to go on the attack in the north… we are approaching a decision point,” he added.

Fire Service Commissioner Eyal Caspi updated Halevi regarding firefighting efforts across the Galilee and the Golan Heights on Monday and Tuesday, during which 16 firefighters and soldiers were injured. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also held situation assessments in the north on Tuesday.

With Hezbollah increasing its attacks in recent days, amid an intense heatwave, its rockets and drone strikes have caused a number of large fires across northern Israel.

On Tuesday evening, the War Cabinet convened in Jerusalem to discuss the deteriorating situation in the north, among other pressing issues related to the war.

Footage of the large wildfires has been widely disseminated on social media and TV channels in Israel over the past few days, prompting several politicians to demand that the government handle Hezbollah more effectively.

War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz warned that the northern areas can’t “lose another year.”

He demanded the situation be resolved by the start of the coming school year, “whether by [diplomatic] arrangement or [military] escalation,” while touring the border area with fellow party member Gadi Eisenkot.

“I’ve been engaged for months in a struggle, with the prime minister and with everyone, so that by September 1, we’ll be done here and will be able to deal with something new,” said Gantz.

“Truthfully, [Netanyahu] needed to be here today. Only one who smells the char of the fire, who hears the residents’ cries, one who speaks with the local leaders, can lead,” the former IDF chief and defense minister added.

Several other politicians traveled to northern Israel to inspect the damage over the past few days, including former foreign minister and current energy minister, Eli Cohen. He called for Israel to “remove the gloves” and “act strongly” against Hezbollah.

After being criticized by opposition politicians over the situation in the north, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees Israel's fire and rescue services, also visited the northern town of Kiryat Shmona on Tuesday.

“We finished a situation assessment and a visit to Kiryat Shmona. I think it’s amazing to see firefighters risking their lives, policemen who are here 24/7,” he said. “And now the IDF’s job is to destroy Hezbollah.”

“They’re burning [us] here. All Hezbollah strongholds should be burned, they should be destroyed. War!” he declared.

יער בירייה בצפון התחדשות האש וסכנה לבסיס סמוך

קרדיט: קק"ל pic.twitter.com/ccmxfLr2WQ

— NWS news (@nws_report) June 4, 2024

On Tuesday, Hezbollah attacks caused fires in the areas of Kiryat Shmona, the northern Golan Heights, Keren Naftali, and the communities of Betzet, Kfar Giladi and Amiad. A large fire was caused by shrapnel from an interceptor missile in the Biriya Forest near Safed, which required 10 firefighting teams and a plane to extinguish.

The IDF responded to the attacks by striking two rocket launchers and three military buildings overnight, the army announced on Wednesday morning.

Two Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon's Zibqin and Ayta ash-Shab were struck by fighter jets overnight, the military says.

Another three buildings used by the terror group in Odaisseh, Blida, and Markaba were struck, the IDF adds.

Sirens this morning in the Galilee… pic.twitter.com/WYRVwpzEdT

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 5, 2024

On Tuesday, the IDF said it had eliminated a terrorist near a-Naqoura in southern Lebanon, in addition to bombing several Hezbollah targets in Aita al-Sha’ab and al-Adaisa, and shelling areas along the border to remove imminent threats.

The IDF stated that Field Intelligence Battalion 869 of the 91st Galil Division so far identified more than 100 terrorists and eliminated them through the transfer of accurate and high-quality intelligence in cooperation with the fighting forces on the ground, the Air Force and artillery.

Battalion 869 is responsible for the multi-dimensional intel collection in the Lebanese border sector.

Hezbollah has confirmed that more than 300 of its operatives have been killed by Israeli strikes, though Israel estimates the number to be slightly higher.