Israeli soldiers stationed at the border with Lebanon, March 12, 2026. (Credit: Shir Torem/Reuters)
Israel plans to significantly expand its ground operation in Lebanon, with the objective of seizing the entire area south of the Litani River and dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, Axios reported Friday, citing Israeli and American officials.
According to the American media outlet, this could constitute Israel’s largest ground invasion of Lebanon since 2006, and an operation of this scope could lead to a prolonged Israeli occupation of the country’s south. "We are going to do what we did in Gaza," a senior Israeli official said, referring to the destruction of buildings that Israel accuses Hezbollah of using to store weapons and launch attacks.
Until a few days ago, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was still seeking, according to Israeli officials interviewed by Axios, to contain the escalation in Lebanon to remain focused on Iran. That calculation changed Wednesday when Hezbollah launched more than 200 missiles in a massive attack coordinated with Iran, which fired dozens of projectiles of its own, Axios reports.
"Before this attack, we were ready for a cease-fire in Lebanon, but after that there is no turning back from a massive operation," a senior Israeli official said. "We believe we have the full support of the United States for this operation," the official also told Axios. "The Israelis have to do what they have to do to stop Hezbollah’s fire," an American official said.
