JERUSALEM (VINnews) – The Israel Defense Forces is reinforcing its positions in northern Israel as fighting intensifies with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the military announced Thursday.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered a broad reinforcement of troops in the Northern Command following a situational assessment, according to an IDF statement. The move aims to enhance readiness for both offensive and defensive scenarios.

The deployment includes standing army units, notably the 98th Division with two brigade-level combat teams and combat engineering battalions. To facilitate the shift, reservist forces from the 252nd Division are being mobilized for the Gaza Strip to replace the units redeployed north. In the Central Command, several reserve battalions will have their service extended.

The IDF has deepened its ground presence in southern Lebanon over the past week, establishing what it describes as a forward defense to add an extra security layer for northern Israeli residents.

Since hostilities escalated earlier this month with Hezbollah launching attacks on Israel, the IDF has carried out more than 1,100 strikes in Lebanon. Targets included 190 sites linked to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, 200 rocket and missile launchers, 35 command centers and 80 multi-story buildings used by the group, the military said.

The IDF reports that over 380 members of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations have been killed in the operations.

The reinforcements come amid warnings from senior officials that the campaign against Hezbollah will be prolonged, with additional forces potentially deployed based on ongoing assessments.