Israel widens focus of military action to include Lebanon front

Jerusalem (AFP): Israel announced the expansion of its military aims on Tuesday, widening its nearly year-long offensive against Hamas in Gaza to focus on Hezbollah along its northern border with Lebanon.

“The political-security cabinet updated the goals of the war this evening, so that they include the following section: the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Not formally declared as a war, the exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and Hezbollah have killed hundreds, mostly fighters, in Lebanon, and dozens of civilians and soldiers on the Israeli side. Hezbollah claimed a dozen attacks on Israeli positions on Monday and three more on Tuesday.

The Israeli announcement came a day after Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said “military action” was the “only way left to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities”.

It also comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due back in the region this week to try to revive stalled ceasefire talks for Israel’s operation in Gaza.