Further escalation

Israeli military approves offensive in Lebanon

The conflict in the Middle East is growing ever wider.

(Bild: AFP/JACK GUEZ)

The situation in the Middle East continues to escalate: the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have approved operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon following increasing tensions. Israel's chief diplomat had previously threatened an "all-out war".

"As part of the assessment of the situation, the operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon were confirmed and approved. Decisions were made to further increase the operational readiness of troops in the field," the IDF announced. Tensions between Israel and the radical Islamic group Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, have recently increased.

Katz talks of "total war"
Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz had previously threatened the pro-Iranian Shia militia with destruction in an "all-out war". "We are close to the time when we will decide to change the rules of the game against Hezbollah and Lebanon," explained Katz's office on Tuesday. "In an all-out war, Hezbollah will be destroyed and Lebanon will be hit hard."

Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip more than eight months ago, there have also been repeated attacks on the border between Israel and Lebanon. There, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia regularly engages in firefights with the Israeli army in order to support its ally, the Islamist Hamas.

Killing of Hezbollah commander
After a high-ranking Hezbollah commander was killed in an Israeli attack, the militia stepped up its attacks on northern Israel last week.