In Lebanon, after the pagers and walkie-talkies of Hezbollah members exploded successively within two days, on Wednesday (September 18th), Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that a “new phase” of the conflict is starting. He mentioned that the focus of the war is shifting northward.
On Wednesday, the Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that following the explosion of pagers on Tuesday, which resulted in at least 12 deaths and over 2,800 injuries, Lebanon faced a second wave of explosions on Wednesday with walkie-talkies, causing at least 9 deaths and 300 injuries.
Defense Minister Gallant refused to comment on the Tuesday explosions. However, during his visit to the Ramat David Airbase in northern Israel on Wednesday, he expressed that the Israeli Defense Forces, along with Shin Bet and Mossad, have achieved remarkable results.
Gallant stated, “I believe we are entering a new phase of this war, and we need to adapt. Over time, we need to maintain consistency as this war requires immense courage, determination, and perseverance.”
CNN previously reported that this operation is the result of a joint action by the Israeli Defense Forces and the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.
Just hours before Gallant made the above remarks, on Wednesday, the Israeli military was transferring the elite 98th Division from Gaza to northern Israel.
He outlined Israel’s clear and simple war objective in the north as “ensuring the safe return of residents to northern towns.”
“We have not forgotten about the hostages, and we have not forgotten about our mission in the south. It is our duty, and we are simultaneously fulfilling this duty,” Gallant added.
After nearly a year of clashes between Hezbollah and Israel, tens of thousands of people in southern Lebanon and northern Israel have been displaced, with the return of northern Israeli residents considered a long-standing political issue.
On Monday, the Israeli cabinet officially designated the return of residents to their homes in the north as a war goal. This marked the first time Prime Minister Netanyahu formalized this as a wartime objective.
Netanyahu reiterated on Wednesday his commitment to bringing back the northern residents to their homes near the Lebanese border, as they were forced to evacuate due to cross-border attacks.
In a video statement, he said, “I have said that we will bring the northern residents back to their homes safely, and that’s exactly what we will do.”
“The focus is shifting northward,” Gallant mentioned. “This means we are diverting our strength, resources, and energy towards the north.”
Since Hezbollah began attacking the northern regions of Israel in October 2023, tens of thousands of Israelis living near the Lebanese border have evacuated their homes. Subsequently, Hezbollah has been launching attacks almost daily.
(This article referenced reports from “The Times of Israel” and CNN)