Gallant tells troops Israel close to achieving goals in Gaza, is shifting focus to north

Speaking to troops during a drill simulating a ground offensive in Lebanon, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israel is shifting its focus to the northern front as it aims to soon achieve its objectives in the Gaza Strip.

“The center of gravity is moving to the north, we are nearing the completion of our missions 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 the residents to their homes,” he says to reservists of the Oded Brigade in northern Israel.

Some 60,000 Israelis have been displaced from their homes amid daily attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel. Returning the displaced residents of the north to their homes is part of Israel’s war goals, alongside dismantling Hamas and returning the hostages kidnapped by the terror group on October 7.

“These instructions you are waiting for, I gave in the south and saw the forces at work,” Gallant says, referring to Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza. He adds that such orders “will come here as well and you should be prepared and ready to carry out this mission.”

“We are finishing training the entire order of battle for a ground operation [in Lebanon], in all its aspects,” Gallant says.

“I’ve already seen in many circumstances where I stood next to troops who told me: ‘You are just talking.’ After a week I met them on the ground,” he adds to the reserve soldiers.