Israel ready to fight multi-front war 'for months'
The Israeli army is prepared to keep fighting in Gaza and Lebanon "for months" after more than a year of war, an Israeli security source said Wednesday during a briefing with media outlets.
"We are prepared for months, and we will stay as long as necessary to ensure (Israel's) security," said the source, referring to the ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Israel has also vowed to respond to Iran's missile barrage earlier this month.
The source said Israel was not waging "a war against Gaza, nor another war against Lebanon," but rather against Iran-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
It was "a war against Iran, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly, via Iran's proxies," the source said.
Israel has succeeded in "eliminating the entire chain of command" of Hamas and Hezbollah, while dismantling "a large part of their military capabilities" the source added.
The war in Gaza began with Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly "civilians," according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 42,792 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
Last month, Israel expanded its military operations in Lebanon after regular cross-border rocket fire from Hezbollah in support of its Palestinian ally Hamas.
Israel has vowed to secure its northern border to allow tens of thousands of displaced Israelis to return home.
Since war broke out on October 7 last year, 29 Israeli soldiers have died in clashes with Hezbollah, while 358 have been killed in Gaza.
The army's objective is to weaken these "terrorist groups" as much as possible, the security source said.
"In the Gaza Strip, it's more counter-insurgency," said the source, estimating that Hamas has "around a thousand" fighters and "at most" 100 rockets left in their arsenal that could reach the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.
AFP was unable to confirm the validity of these figures.
- 'As long as necessary' -
Israel ramped up its air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon and sent in ground troops late last month, in a war that has killed at least 1,552 people since September 23, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry figures.
Even as it pummels Lebanon, Israel is hoping the neighboring country will emerge from the conflict more stable.
"We do what is in our interest," the source said. "A peaceful Lebanon is in our interest."
The source cited U.N. Resolution 1701, which brought an end to Israel's last war with Hezbollah in 2006.
According to the resolution, only the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeeping force UNIFIL would be deployed in areas south of Lebanon's Litani River near the Israeli border.
The security source said Israel supports enacting the resolution but only if Israel would be "able to enforce" these rules.
The situation in Gaza was more complex, the source admitted.
"The army will stay as long as necessary," the source said.
"Only once security is guaranteed will it be time to think about the next step."
Source: Agence France Presse
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