Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant visits an IAF command center and he holds a situation assessment with Israeli Air Force chief, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, and senior IAF officials, Aug. 5, 2024. (Photo: (Photo: Ariel Hermoni/IMoD)
According to Channel 13 in Israel, senior IDF officials have suggested launching a preliminary attack against the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon before it launches any attack against Israel.
The report indicated that while the proposal, presented on Monday, is currently under consideration by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, it has not yet been accepted.
“The chances of escalation in the north are already increasing, so it’s better that we lead,” the officials said.
According to senior military officials, the proposed attack is intended to “undermine the sense of the enemy that they are waiting for its move to come.” They added that “the chances of escalation in the north are already increasing, it would be better that we lead.”
Gallant visited the Israeli Air Force (IAF) control post on Monday, where he held an assessment with its commander, IDF Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar, and other senior officials.
Gallant allegedly told the IAF commander: “Our enemies are carefully considering their steps thanks to the capabilities you have demonstrated over the past year. However, we must prepare for all possibilities – including a quick transition to attack.”
Last week, the IDF eliminated Hezbollah’s second in command, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut after the rocket attack in Majdal Shams, which killed 12 children playing on a soccer field.
Two days after the strike that killed Shukr, Hezbollah Sec.-Gen. Hassan Nasrallah said the war against Israel “has entered a new and open phase” on all fronts. Threatening retaliation, he said, “We are in a new phase of confrontation. The Israelis rejoiced – now they will cry.”
Israel also anticipates a retaliatory attack from the Iranian regime following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh at an IRGC facility in a northern suburb of Tehran. Haniyeh was killed when a bomb exploded in the room where he staying.
Haniyeh was in Tehran for the inauguration of newly-appointed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Israel has not commented on the death of Haniyeh or its involvement in the bombing attack.
An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman claimed Tehran was “not interested in a regional war,” but stressed that in the opinion of the Islamic regime, “Israel must be punished in order to prevent future instability.”
