Gallant: We’re boosting our readiness, expanding our operations against Hezbollah

Speaking at a homefront readiness drill in Haifa, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says Israel is “increasing preparedness, and at the same time we are also expanding our operations against Hezbollah, against other bodies that threaten us, we strike our enemies all over the Middle East.”

He says one of the main issues that Israel is facing is how to let some 80,000 displaced Israelis return to their homes in northern Israel amid daily attacks by Hezbollah.

“We prefer… an agreement that will result in the removal of the threat, but we have to prepare for the possibility of [using] force in Lebanon which can also take into account the scenario we are describing here, which is a scenario of war, and we need to be prepared for this issue and understand that it can happen,” Gallant says.

“We need to be prepared and ready for every scenario and every threat, against close enemies and against distant enemies,” he adds.

The drill evaluated the coordination between local authorities, government ministries, and rescue services in a war scenario, “in light of the increasing need to return the residents of the north to their homes,” the Defense Ministry says.