Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted the cryptic 10-second video on Wednesday, the second day of a series of attacks targeting Hezbollah terrorist communications devices across Lebanon.
“I have already said: We will bring the people of the north back to their homes safely, and that is exactly what we are going to do,” Netanyahu said in Hebrew.
There was no further clarification on Netanyahu's remarks, but the government spokesman's office released translated excerpts of a speech by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in which he said “the 'center of gravity' is moving north, which means we are allocating forces, resources and energy to the northern region.”
Israel's security cabinet decided on Tuesday to expand the current war objectives — destroying Hamas, freeing hostages and ensuring Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel — to include the return of northern residents.
As Breitbart News has reported, Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed group that illegally occupies southern Lebanon, has fired thousands of rockets, anti-tank missiles and drones at Israel unprovoked since October.
Israel responded in kind, but was forced to evacuate some 60,500 Jewish and Arab residents from 74 towns in the north.
U.S.-led diplomatic efforts have failed to persuade Hezbollah to stop attacks on Israel and withdraw from Lebanon north of the Litani River, as per the agreement that ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War.
Israel has said it would use military force if necessary to drive Hezbollah from its borders, and although Hezbollah, armed by Iran and its allies, is considered a much more powerful force than Hamas, Israel broadly supports war against it.
On Tuesday, thousands of pagers carried by Hezbollah fighters exploded across Lebanon, killing 12 people and wounding 2,750. On Wednesday, walkie-talkies and other devices exploded, killing three people and wounding hundreds.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday It airs Sundays from 7:00pm-10:00pm ET (4:00pm-7:00pm PT) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of the following books: Agenda: What President Trump Should Do in His First 100 Daysavailable for pre-order on Amazon. He also The Trump Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump's Presidencyavailable now on Audible. He is the recipient of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
