Israel prepares for extended Hezbollah campaign that could surpass Iran war - report
Officials signal the offensive could continue beyond US-Israeli operations in Iran
Israeli officials are preparing for an extended campaign against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that could continue even after the US-Israeli war with Iran ends, according to a Financial Times report. The offensive follows recent rocket attacks by the Iran-backed group into northern Israel.
Israeli sources said last week that the US-Israeli war with Iran is expected to last “weeks,” as the coalition seeks to destroy Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure along with key security pillars supporting the Islamic republic. US President Donald Trump, however, described the conflict on Monday as ahead of schedule and “very complete, pretty much.”
Officials familiar with the planning told the Financial Times that the Israeli operation against Hezbollah could last at least as long as the campaign in Iran and may continue after any ceasefire with Tehran. “[The goal is] to inflict enough damage [on Hezbollah so] that there is not this constant fear of having to evacuate the northern residents,” one official was reported saying, referring to communities previously displaced by cross-border attacks.
An Arab diplomat said Israel has communicated to regional countries that hostilities with Hezbollah could outlast the war with Iran. Efforts to avoid a broader escalation include diplomatic proposals from France to help disarm Hezbollah, while Lebanese officials have publicly expressed openness to direct talks with Israel.
According to the report, planning for renewed Israeli operations against Hezbollah reportedly began even before the launch of the US-Israeli strike on Iran. Israel previously waged a full-scale war in Lebanon in October 2024 after a year of cross-border fire that began following Hamas’s October 2023 attack from Gaza. A US-brokered ceasefire nominally ended that fighting, but Israel has continued near-daily strikes, citing slow progress on Hezbollah's disarmament.
The hostilities escalated last week after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Hezbollah made a severe mistake,” said an Israeli military official.
With Israel signaling a prolonged campaign, regional diplomats and international actors are closely monitoring the situation as the country balances its operations in Lebanon with ongoing efforts to target Iranian capabilities.