Israeli Chief of Staff approves expanding ground incursion into southern Lebanon

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported on Sunday evening that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi approved the expansion of the Israeli army’s ground operations in southern Lebanon.

The Broadcasting Authority report indicated that Halevi approved expanding the invasion at the end of the week, and stated that the Chief of Staff approved new plans for the Northern Command, which means expanding the IDF’s ground maneuver to new areas.

According to the report, thousands of regular and reserve soldiers are expected to participate in the invasion.

According to Kann 11 TV channel who quoted senior security officials as saying that “the new plans are designed to allow the Israeli army to deepen the achievements it has made so far, and to reach additional areas where Hezbollah operates”.

This comes as Israeli reports issued on Sunday evening reiterated the possibility of reaching a settlement in Lebanon.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli reports said that Tel Aviv is considering reaching a temporary ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Israeli Channel 12, amid Tel Aviv’s fears of a possible UN Security Council resolution that would significantly restrict “Israel’s military freedom”.

In this context, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer made a secret visit to the Russian capital, Moscow, last week, according to Israeli Army Radio.

The Israeli Army Radio indicated that Dermer is responsible for the negotiations aimed at reaching a settlement that would end the escalating Israeli attack on Lebanon, as a representative of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The report stated that Russia is expected to play an important role in a possible ceasefire agreement, if reached between Israel and Hezbollah, to ensure a change in the situation in Lebanon and prevent Hezbollah from arming itself.

On the fifth of this month, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army stressed that the time had come to reach a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel, and Hezbollah stressed repeatedly during this year that there would be no ceasefire in Lebanon without a ceasefire in Gaza.