JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israel’s military chief of staff said Monday that the “shockwaves” from recent Israeli strikes on Iran are reverberating through Hezbollah, as he approved new battle plans for expanded ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir made the remarks during a visit to Israel’s northern border alongside Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo. He described Iran as the “main arena” in the conflict, asserting that weakening the regime and its capabilities would undermine the broader “radical axis,” including Hezbollah.

“Iran is the main arena, weakening the regime and its capabilities will weaken the entire radical axis and, within that, the Hezbollah terror organization,” Zamir said, according to remarks published by the Israel Defense Forces.

He added that the campaign against Hezbollah remains a central front. “Any damage to the military build-up capabilities of Iran and the Revolutionary Guards also harms Hezbollah’s arming and financing capabilities,” Zamir said. “The shockwave of the strikes and the weakening of the radical regime in Iran are also felt in the campaign against Hezbollah.”

Since Hezbollah began attacking Israel in solidarity with Iran amid the ongoing war, the IDF has killed more than 400 members of the group, including senior officers, Zamir noted.

“We are determined to deepen the operation until all of our objectives are achieved,” he said.

The statements come as the IDF continues targeted ground operations in southern Lebanon aimed at establishing a buffer zone and neutralizing threats from Hezbollah, which has faced significant losses in leadership and infrastructure from Israeli strikes.