The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it has targeted over 50 sites in Syria associated with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah since the commencement of the Gaza war on October 7. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson, provided details during a briefing, deviating from Israel’s usual reluctance to discuss operations in Syria. The focus was on countering Hezbollah’s attacks, which expressed solidarity with Hamas.
Hagari emphasized Israel’s commitment to taking action wherever Hezbollah is present in the Middle East, signaling a departure from their traditional silence on Syrian operations. Israeli forces have reportedly attacked 34,000 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including 120 border surveillance outposts, 40 weapon caches, and more than 40 command centers. Hagari stated that the number of enemy casualties exceeds 200.
In response to the cross-border attack by Palestinian Hamas on October 7, Israel deployed three army divisions along its Lebanese border, anticipating Hezbollah’s involvement. With the evacuation of tens of thousands of northern residents, Israel has warned of escalating the conflict in Lebanon unless Hezbollah withdraws from the border. Additionally, Israel has sought Western assistance in seeking a diplomatic resolution in Beirut.
