Defense Minister Gallant Says Central Israeli Troops Complete Training For Land Operations In Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met the Oded Brigade troops. (Source: Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

JAKARTA - Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israeli forces were conducting exercises to carry out ground operations in Lebanon, when the goal of operations in the Gaza Strip was nearing completion.

Speaking to the soldiers in a drill that simulated ground attacks in Lebanon, Defense Minister Gallant said Israel was shifting its focus to the north front with the aim of immediately achieving its goal in the Gaza Strip.

"The center of gravity is moving north, we are close to completing our mission in the south, but we have a task here that has not been carried out, and this mission is to change the security situation and return residents to their homes," he told soldiers of the Oded Brigade in northern Israel..

About 60,000 Israelis have fled their homes amid a daily attack by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against northern Israeli territory.

Returning refugees in the north to their homes is part of Israel's war goal, in addition to destroying Hamas and returning the hostages kidnapped by the terror group on 7 October.

"The instructions you have been waiting for, I give them in the south and see the troops at work," said Defense Minister Gallant, referring to the Israeli ground attack on Gaza.

He added that such an order 'will come here too and you must be ready and ready to carry out this mission.'

"We are completing the training of the entire combat order for land operations (in Lebanon) in all aspects," said Defense Minister Gallant.

"I've seen in many situations where I stood beside the troops who told me: 'You're just talking'. After a week I met them on the pitch," he added.

Earlier, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israel should shift its focus to Hezbollah and the Lebanese border, warning "we are too late on this."

"We have enough troops to confront Gaza and we have to concentrate on what is happening in the north," Gantz said, speaking in Washington, DC at a Middle Eastern forum.

In the forum, the man who once served as Israel's Chief of Staff Defense Forces (IDF) also said Iran and its proxies were "the real problem."

"It's time for the north to arrive and actually I think we're late on this," he said.

Gantz said Israel made a mistake by evacuating most of the country's northern territory as hostilities with Hezbollah flared up following a Hamas attack on October 7 that sparked the Gaza war.

"In Gaza, we have passed a decisive point in this campaign," he said.

"We can do whatever we want in Gaza. We have to try to reach an agreement to free our hostages, but if we can't do it in the near future, days or weeks, or whatever it is, we have to go north," Gantz explained.

"We are able to attack Lebanese countries if needed. The story of Hamas is old news," he added, saying instead "the story of Iran and its proxies across the region and what they are trying to do is the real problem."