Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Helgi Halevi said on Tuesday that Israel has reached a “decision” stage on whether to go to war with the Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The need for a war to defend areas in northern Israel has grown even more pressing since a barrage of Hezbollah rockets and drones last weekend sparked massive wildfires, with most of the towns along the Israeli border evacuated for months.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement:
Today (Tuesday), Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Helge Halevi, together with Israel Fire and Rescue Service Chief of Fire Eyal Caspi, inspected and assessed the situation at the “Gibor” camp on the northern border. The inspection was also attended by 91st Division Commander Shai Klapper (BG), Israel Fire and Rescue Service Northern Region Commander Deputy Fire Chief Yair El-Kayam, and other commanders.
Following this, they met with the troops who worked last night (Monday) to extinguish the fires in the north and praised them for their determination and professionalism in their operations.
In addition, the Chief of Staff met with commanders of the Golan Brigades currently based on the northern border.
From a statement by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Helgi Halevi: “We are approaching the point where we will have to make a decision, and the IDF is well prepared for this decision. We have been on the offensive for the last eight months, and Hezbollah is paying a very high price. Hezbollah has stepped up its attacks in recent days, and we have undergone a very good training process up to the level of the General Staff exercises, and are ready to move on the offensive in the north. A strong defense, prepared for the offensive, we are approaching the point of decision.”
From a statement by Israel Fire and Rescue Services Chairman Eyal Caspi: “Our daily cooperation with the IDF translates into the necessary preparedness and readiness of both agencies, which is also carried out in wartime, maximizing the relative advantages of each organization for the benefit of the State of Israel.”
Hezbollah operates near the Israeli border in apparent violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1707 (2006), which ended the Second Lebanon War, and which neither the UN nor the Lebanese army enforces.
The Israeli government’s “war cabinet” met on Tuesday night ostensibly to discuss the situation in Lebanon. No decisions have been reported at the time of writing, but Israel is preparing for a possible second front.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He recently published an e-book,The Zionist Conspiracy (And How to Join It)” is available on Audible. He is also the author of an e-book. Not Free or Fair: The 2020 US Presidential ElectionHe is the recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship in 2018. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
