IDF greenlights operational plans for offensive in Lebanon

(NewsNation) — Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah remain high after the Israeli military on Tuesday approved operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon, fueling Washington’s concerns of a wider regional conflict.

“As part of the situational assessment, operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon were approved and validated, and decisions were taken on the continuation of increasing the readiness of troops in the field,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.

Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed proxy group based in Lebanon, have been launching near-daily cross-border exchanges of fire since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Hezbollah — in solidarity with Hamas — declared that it will not stop until Israel ceases its military campaign in Gaza.

“On that day, when the shooting stops in Gaza, we will stop the shooting in the south” of Lebanon, Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in February.