JERUSALEM, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Israel was preparing to escalate its attacks on Iran if reported indirect talks between the United States and Iran fail, Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported Sunday.
Israel believes U.S. President Donald Trump will give the green light to target energy facilities and national infrastructure in Iran and is awaiting the "final approval," Kan reported, citing Israeli officials.
Also on Sunday, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir visited southern Lebanon and said Israel plans to intensify its attacks against Hezbollah.
Zamir said more than 1,000 Hezbollah militants had been killed since the full-scale conflict resumed. "That number will continue to rise. The damage to Hezbollah will intensify," he said.
The developments come amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting Feb. 28, to which Iran and its regional allies responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East.
Cross-border fighting has continued along the Lebanon-Israel border since March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, 2024, triggering intensified Israeli airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon. ■
