Tensions Between Israel And Hezbollah Continue To Increase

Emanuel Fabian at the Times of Israel reporting comments from IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi during a visit to the Northern Command. The comments come amid unverified reports that a third wave of explosions may be underway in Lebanon, following two waves of coordinated attacks on Hezbollah's communications devices yesterday and today.

• Halevi said, in a video released by the IDF, that Israel has "many more capabilities" that have not been used yet in the fighting against Hezbollah.
• Halevi: "We are very determined to create the security conditions that will bring the residents [of the north] back to their homes, to the towns, with a high level of security, and we are ready to do whatever is required to enable this."
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video statement moments ago: "I have said it before, we will return to the citizens of the north to their homes in security and that's exactly what we are going to do."
• Halevi: "We have many capabilities that we have not yet activated... we are preparing these plans going forward."
• The New York Times reports that although the 'pager attacks' on Hezbollah operatives have been a tactical success, "the Israeli military did not appear to be preparing for an imminent ground invasion."
• The Times adds however that "Hezbollah is still entrenched on Israel’s northern border," leaving few clear options for Israel to return citizens without a major operation to demilitarise the Israel-Lebanon border region.