Israel’s military will expand its ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, its army chief said Sunday, warning that the offensive against the group was still in its early stages.
“The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organization has only begun… This is a prolonged operation,” Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement.
“We are now preparing to advance the targeted ground operations and strikes according to an organized plan,” he added.
Zamir’s comments came as Israel struck more targets in south Lebanon on Sunday, including a key bridge, triggering a warning from the Lebanese president that it could be launching a full ground invasion.
Destroying bridges further isolates residents from the rest of Lebanon.
The destruction of bridges and homes marks a significant escalation in Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon, which was pulled into the regional war on March 2 when Hezbollah fired into Israeli territory.
Sunday’s strike damaged a crossing on Lebanon’s coastal highway that runs through farmland and is one of the main routes linking southern and central Lebanon.
An Israeli military spokesperson had announced the army would strike the Qasmiyeh bridge earlier on Sunday.
Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes, while Hezbollah has launched rocket barrages.
“In recent weeks, we have achieved significant accomplishments: we have struck more than 2,000 targets, dozens of weapons storage facilities, and struck and eliminated hundreds of terrorists,” Zamir said.
“We will not stop until the threat is pushed away from the border and long term security is ensured for the residents of northern Israel,” he added.
Lebanese authorities say Israel’s strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million.
