JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel said Wednesday it was shifting ground forces from the Gaza area to the Lebanese border, where it has been engaged in intense fighting with Hezbollah since early March amid a wider conflict with Iran.
In a statement, the military said it was transferring the Golani Brigade from Southern Command to operations under Northern Command. The infantry unit has been fighting in Gaza during Israel's two-year offensive that has left much of the enclave in ruins.
The redeployment followed "a situational assessment" by military chief Eyal Zamir, the statement said.
The military said the move was meant to reinforce the northern sector as fighting with Hezbollah continues, adding that additional reinforcements could be deployed following further assessments.
The shift points to a possible expansion of Israel's ground incursion into Lebanon. Israeli strikes there have killed at least 570 people since the conflict began on March 2, according to an update from the Lebanese prime minister's office.
Israeli forces crossed into southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on March 3, saying the move was intended to establish "forward defensive positions" inside Lebanese territory.
The Israeli military is also continuing operations in Gaza. The Gaza health authorities said 649 people have been killed by Israeli fire since a fragile ceasefire was announced in October 2025. The total death toll since the war began in October 2023 has reached 72,134, with 171,828 wounded, it said. ■
