Israeli troops train for offensive as fears of war against Hezbollah grow

04 March 2024 , 22:46

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Israeli troops in Ramallah, in the Occupied West Bank (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

War fears in Lebanon are mounting as Israel’s troops prepare for a deadly ground assault against Hezbollah.

Israel has threatened a wider conflict north of its border if Hezbollah does not withdraw its elite fighters from south Lebanon.

Israeli Defence Forces are now wargaming for an infantry and armour offensive, likely to launch at the end of this month. It comes as US Vice President Kamala Harris demanded a Gaza ceasefire yesterday, in an apparent rebuke to Israel.

A destroyed family home in Rafah, Gaza (Anadolu via Getty Images)

Since Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, in which 1.200 people died, Hezbollah has exchanged fire with Israel almost daily. Some 50,000 troops who fought in Syria plus Hezbollah’s “Radwan” special forces unit have plans for a ground incursion into Israel. It is understood Hezbollah has 30 times more missiles than Hamas had before it attacked Israel, igniting war in Gaza.

Yesterday, a man lost his wife and girl as Israeli blasts razed homes in Rafa, Gaza. IDF troops also raided Al-Amari refugee camp near Ramallah in the West Bank, More than 30,000 Palestinians have died in the war.

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Ms Harris called for a halt to violence to help secure the release of hostages and get aid into Gaza. She said: “Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks.”

The US began airdrops of aid into Gaza at the weekend. It came days after dozens of Palestinians were killed while trying to get food from an Israeli-led convoy.

Chris Hughes