IDF chief says days-long ‘offensive campaign’ launched against Hezbollah in Lebanon

By Emanuel Fabian

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2 March 2026, 8:08 am

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir holds a situational assessment following Hezbollah rocket fire on northern Israel, on March 2, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says the military has launched an “offensive campaign” against Hezbollah that will likely last several days.

“We have begun an offensive campaign against Hezbollah. We are not just on the defensive, now we go on the offense,” he says during an assessment following Hezbollah’s rocket and drone attacks on Israel overnight.

“We need to prepare for several days of fighting, many. We need strong defensive readiness and continuous offensive preparedness, in waves,” he says.

Israel has already carried out several waves of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut and southern Lebanon since the rocket attacks.