In a strong statement on Sunday, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi asserted that the Israeli military is fully prepared for a "multi-front war" against Iranian proxies. This comes as troops are set to transition from defense to offense against Hezbollah terrorists along the northern border.

Lt. Gen. Halevi made it clear that the IDF is ready to face any attempts at retaliation from Iran and its proxies after the recent accusation of an Israeli airstrike in Syria that resulted in the death of two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders.

"The IDF troops are prepared and operating in all arenas, in the south [near Gaza], in the north [near Lebanon], in Judea and Samaria, and in more distant arenas," stated Lt. Gen. Halevi. "We have prepared for this and have good defense systems in place. We also know how to act powerfully against Iran, both offensively and defensively, in places near and far."

Highlighting Iran's backing of terror organizations, Lt. Gen. Halevi condemned their support for groups such as Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen, attributing the chaos in Israel and the region to these groups.

This declaration from the IDF chief of staff coincides with the IDF's revelation that troops are now preparing to shift from defense to offense against Hezbollah following months of deadly skirmishes along the northern border. The IDF stated that preparations have been completed to enhance the capabilities of emergency operational depots, enabling large-scale recruitment of IDF forces when necessary.

The Israeli military expressed confidence in its reserve forces, stating that they would be fully ready for deployment at the front lines within a short period of time, equipped with all the necessary combat gear.

An offensive incursion into Lebanon would escalate the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, who have been exchanging rocket fire over the border since Hezbollah's solidarity-based assault on Israel following Hamas' October 7th terrorist attack. The ongoing fighting has caused displacement of tens of thousands of people in northern Israel and southern Lebanon, with nine civilians in Israel and 40 in Lebanon losing their lives, according to officials from both nations. The Israeli military estimates that 11 IDF soldiers and over 200 Hezbollah fighters have also been killed in the attacks.

While tensions rise in the north, Lt. Gen. Halevi assured that the fighting against Hamas in the south would continue, even with most IDF troops having withdrawn from Gaza. He emphasized the importance of securing hostages and locating Hamas' senior command, expressing confidence that progress is being made in neutralizing terrorists and destroying terror infrastructure.

The readiness of the IDF for war mirrors recent statements made by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who declared on Friday that the terror group is fully prepared for war against Israel. The situation between Israel and Iran's proxies remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalations in the region.