Israel's army chief instructed troops on Wednesday to prepare for a potential incursion into Lebanon as Israeli fighter jets relentlessly targeted Hezbollah positions along the border.
"You can hear the planes overhead; we are attacking continuously, both to pave the way for the possibility of your entry and to keep striking Hezbollah," Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told a tank brigade, according to a statement from the military.
"We are not halting. We will continue to attack and inflict damage on them everywhere," Halevi emphasized.
"To achieve this, we are preparing for the operation, and the expectation is that your military boots will soon tread on enemy soil," Halevi stated.
"Your forceful entry... will demonstrate to Hezbollah the reality of facing a professional combat force," he added.
"You are far stronger and more experienced than them; go in, dismantle the enemy, and destroy their infrastructure," Halevi urged.
"These actions will enable us to safely return the residents of the north to their homes later."
