Israel prepares to apply the Gaza model in Lebanon
The Israeli army has established 18 additional positions in southern Lebanon since the beginning of the war, while Hezbollah continues to launch rockets.
The Israeli army has set up 18 additional military sites in southern Lebanon since the start of the current war on March 2 and is preparing to apply the “Gaza model” on Lebanese territory, according to Hebrew media on Thursday, while Hezbollah continues launching rockets and drones at sensitive targets inside Israel.
The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that “before the war, the Israeli army had five permanent positions inside Lebanon, which were a type of permanent structure.”
It added that “there are now 18 additional positions deep within the area, and the role of the Israeli forces is to pursue fighters from the Radwan Force,” referring to Hezbollah’s elite units.
The newspaper also noted that “three divisions are currently operating there in southern Lebanon, and to complete the mission, a large reserve mobilization will be required.” It added that Israel is preparing to expand the war against Hezbollah.
On Thursday, the Israeli army confirmed in a statement that it had attacked ten Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs, as well as rocket launch platforms across various parts of Lebanon.
Israel’s expanded offensive against Lebanon has resulted in the deaths of 634 people, injured more than 1,586, and displaced around 817,000 individuals, according to Lebanese authorities on Tuesday evening.
The newspaper emphasized that “according to military officials, the campaign against Hezbollah will not be short and will not be bound by a specific timetable.”
Citing unnamed Israeli military sources, the newspaper added: “This is the Gaza model, but in Lebanon. The objective is to push the fighting deep into enemy territory and clear it from within, similar to what happened in Gaza.”
Israel reported that 200 rockets were launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel during the past night.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said Thursday that “Israel witnessed a notable escalation in rocket fire from Lebanon last night,” adding that “sirens sounded in various areas of the country more than 13 times, during which approximately 200 rockets were fired toward Israeli territory, with no injuries reported.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said in a statement Thursday that “forces from the Mountain Brigade (810), under the command of Division 210, are operating at several points in the Mount Dov area in southern Lebanon,” citing the need to strengthen the defensive line to protect residents of northern Israel.
It added that “brigade forces discovered positions, launch platforms, and weapons depots belonging to Hezbollah, including mortar shells and other military equipment,” noting that “the forces destroyed all the weapons that were found.”
Also on Thursday, the Israeli army carried out two airstrikes on a building in the village of Qasr Naba in the Baalbek district of eastern Lebanon shortly after warning residents to evacuate the building and the surrounding area.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the Israeli army conducted two strikes on the building. During the first strike, the missile did not explode, prompting a second strike on the same structure.
The agency did not report any casualties and did not specify the extent of the damage to the building, which the Israeli army claims was being used by Hezbollah. The army had previously issued two warnings to residents of the villages of Qasr Naba and Douris in the Baalbek area, asking them to evacuate specific buildings and surrounding areas in preparation for strikes.
In a statement, the army said: “An urgent warning to the residents of Lebanon, particularly in the village of Qasr Naba: we will soon attack military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah.”
The statement was accompanied by a map identifying a specific building in the village. The army said: “Residents of the building marked in red on the map and nearby buildings are located near a structure used by Hezbollah,” adding: “For your safety, you must evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away.”
In a later statement, the army issued a similar warning to residents of the village of Douris in the same district, urging them to evacuate a specific building and nearby structures immediately and warning that remaining in the designated area would expose them to danger.
