Israel's Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir meets with Northern Command leadership at the Northern Command headquarters in Israel, March 21, 2026. Israel's military chief has approved plans to expand the offensive in Lebanon and said the military is prepared for a "prolonged" operation. Eyal Zamir approved the advancement of targeted ground operations on Saturday following a meeting with Northern Command leadership, the military announced in a statement on Sunday. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military chief has approved plans to expand the offensive in Lebanon and said the military is prepared for a "prolonged" operation.
Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir approved the advancement of targeted ground operations on Saturday following a meeting with Northern Command leadership, the military announced in a statement on Sunday.
In remarks on video, Zamir said that the offensive against Hezbollah "has only begun" and described it as a central arena interconnected with the U.S.-Israeli war against the Iranian government.
Zamir said that since the cross-border fighting resumed in early March, Israeli forces have struck more than 2,000 targets and "dozens" of weapons storage facilities.
Zamir emphasized that the military is prepared for a "prolonged" conflict and will continue to operate "as required, both offensively and defensively." He said the aim is to "ensure the long-term security of the residents of northern Israel."
The development came amid heightened regional tensions after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting from Feb. 28, to which Iran and Iran-aligned groups, including Hezbollah, responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East.
Hezbollah said it launched rockets from Lebanon toward Israel on March 2, the first such attack since a ceasefire was declared on Nov. 27, 2024. Israel subsequently launched a military campaign against the group, including intensive airstrikes on areas in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut's southern suburbs. ■
