More than 100,000 reservists have been mobilized, and the IDF Northern Command remains in a state of high readiness.
By Hezy Laing
As the regional conflict with Iran enters a critical phase, the IDF is reportedly weighing a significant ground invasion of Southern Lebanon, spurred by a massive wave of Hezbollah aerial attacks on Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Overnight and into Monday morning, Hezbollah launched a barrage of precision missiles and drone swarms at northern Israel and targets as far south as Haifa, marking the group’s first major entry into the war following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The IDF said Hezbollah’s latest strikes as a “very bad mistake,” prompting an immediate and intense response from the Israeli Air Force.
Israeli military officials stated that Sunday’s aerial assault has fundamentally altered the security calculus, forcing the high command to transition from defensive containment to an offensive campaign.
While the IDF has already launched hundreds of retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah command centers and weapons depots in Beirut and southern Lebanon, the focus has shifted toward a potential ground maneuver to neutralize the immediate threat of further aerial and anti-tank fire.
To prepare for this contingency, the IDF has initiated a massive new call-up of reservists, mobilizing thousands of specialized combat engineers and logistics personnel to reinforce the northern front.
A ground invasion would likely involve a multi-pronged maneuver to seize strategic high ground and clear the dense thickets of “nature reserves” used by Hezbollah for launch sites.
This operation would rely on armored columns supported by heavy artillery to establish a secure buffer zone, aiming to push the Radwan Force back to the Litani River and dismantle the tunnel networks that threaten Israeli border communities.
Despite the heightened military activity and the issuance of evacuation orders to residents in over 50 Lebanese villages, a final decision on a ground invasion has not yet been confirmed.
The IDF Spokesperson noted on Monday that while “all options are on the table,” the military is still assessing the results of its ongoing air campaign before committing ground troops.
The Israeli security cabinet remains in continuous session to determine if a land incursion is necessary to secure the northern border or if intensified air operations will suffice to degrade Hezbollah’s capabilities.
For now, more than 100,000 reservists have been mobilized, and the IDF Northern Command remains in a state of high readiness, awaiting the political directive that would launch the next phase of the operation.
