Israel is ‘following what happens in Beirut and Tehran’ & preparing a ‘variety of offensive options,’ says DM Gallant

IDF and police are preparing for possible terrorist infiltrations in the event of a war

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Amid the ongoing tensions on Israel’s northern border and the expectation of a large-scale combined attack by Hezbollah and its patron Iran, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the troops on the front and sent a threatening message to Israel’s enemies.

“We are closely following what happens in Beirut and Tehran, and are working to thwart any [possible] threat, while also preparing a variety of offensive options,” Gallant said after visiting an IDF intelligence base.

The minister received an overview of the operations that enabled the elimination of Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr (also known as Sayyid Mohsen), two weeks ago, as well as ongoing efforts to thwart Hezbollah terrorists and threats across Lebanon.

“It was from this place that Hezbollah Military Chief Mohsen was eliminated. The troops here are working very hard, and are preparing for anything that may take place,” Gallant said.

“We deal with both removing threats and preparing all the possibilities to be able to attack wherever we decide.”

Gallant later met with the commander of the IDF’s Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Uri Gordin, and discussed the operational readiness and preparations within its different branches.

“We are determined to fulfill our mission – we must ensure the safe return of [Israel’s northern] residents to their homes, once we ensure that Hezbollah withdraws north of the Litani River.”

“I am aware of the tensions and the great burden placed on the citizens of Israel... Thanks to the people at this base and in many places all over the country – at sea, on land, and in the air – the citizens of Israel can maintain their routine lives, but must remain vigilant, alert and ready, and must follow the instructions published by the Homefront Command,” he added.

While the country is bracing for the expected attacks, Israel’s security forces have continued to use the time to improve its defenses for all possibilities.

The IDF has advanced several elite units closer to the border to use them as a rapid intervention force in the event of a large-scale infiltration by Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Unit into the Galilee, the newspaper Maariv reported.

This move was reportedly part of the lessons learned by the military after the failure to defend the border towns near the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7.

In addition, the IDF and Israel Police have placed numerous concrete barriers and firing positions across northern Israel to help defend northern communities.

The Coastal District Police told Maariv that following the Oct. 7 raid in the south, in response to the October 7 raid in the south, they have developed an operational plan designating every vehicle in the northern police district as a defensive position to prevent enemies from penetrating deep into the country.

“Every few days we train the forces to reach the defense positions. Every policeman knows where he is supposed to go if notified of the intrusion of forces in the Galilee area,” the police said.

On Oct. 7, police officers were the last line of defense in the south after thousands of terrorists infiltrated the Gaza border simultaneously and overwhelmed the IDF defenses. That morning, 10 heavily armed Hamas terrorists captured the Sderot police station and killed seven police officers. The battle to retake the building continued for two days.