Israel announced on Tuesday that it is expanding the goals of its war in Gaza to include enabling residents to return to communities in northern Israel that were evacuated due to ongoing attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. The decision was approved during an overnight meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
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The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched an assault on southern Israel on October 7, prompting Hezbollah to open a second front against Israel from Lebanon a day later. Since then, fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border has intensified, raising concerns about a potential regional conflict. Tens of thousands of Israelis were evacuated from towns along the northern frontier that have suffered significant damage from rocket fire, and they have yet to return to their homes.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Monday that diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with Hezbollah were becoming increasingly unlikely. He warned that “the possibility for an agreement is running out as Hezbollah continues to ‘tie itself’ to Hamas and refuses to end the conflict. Therefore, the only way left to ensure the return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes will be via military action.”