An Israeli military vehicle is seen in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, Jan. 17, 2024. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi on Wednesday warned that the prospects of a "full-fledged war" with Lebanon's Hezbollah have escalated and are "much higher than before." (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
JERUSALEM, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi on Wednesday warned that the prospects of a "full-fledged war" with Lebanon's Hezbollah have escalated and are "much higher than before."
"I don't know when the war in the north will begin, but I can tell you that the likelihood of it taking place in the next few months is much higher than before," said Halevi during a tour in northern Israel, where he visited a reservists' exercise.
"When we will need to -- we will go forward at full strength," he added.
Halevi said that the drill aims to increase the preparedness of soldiers in the north in the wake of "many lessons learned from the fighting in Gaza."
Israeli forces and Hezbollah have traded fire across the borders since Oct. 8, 2023, after the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict the previous day.
According to official Israeli figures, nine Israeli troops and six civilians have been killed by fire from Lebanon, while Hezbollah claims that 162 of their fighters were killed during the same period. ■
An Israeli soldier is seen in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, Jan. 17, 2024. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi on Wednesday warned that the prospects of a "full-fledged war" with Lebanon's Hezbollah have escalated and are "much higher than before." (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
Israeli soldiers are seen in northern Israel, near the border with Lebanon, Jan. 17, 2024. Israel's military chief Herzi Halevi on Wednesday warned that the prospects of a "full-fledged war" with Lebanon's Hezbollah have escalated and are "much higher than before." (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
