IDF High Command Authorizes Expansion of Lebanon Operations as Airstrikes Target 2,000 Sites Across Iran

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir authorizes expanded operations in Lebanon as Israel strikes 2,000 Iranian targets. Displacement in Lebanon nears 1 million.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 5:04 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Anadolu Agency

Strategic Escalation and Force Reinforcement

The Israeli military high command has formally authorized a new phase of military activity aimed at "deepening" operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir endorsed the expansion following a comprehensive security assessment of the nation’s northern and central theaters. Military spokesperson Ella Wawiya confirmed that the approved plans involve a significant reinforcement of regular army units along the Lebanese border, supported by the mobilization of additional reserve forces. This strategic shift suggests a transition from localized containment to a broader offensive intended to dismantle Hezbollah’s operational infrastructure and reduce its capacity for cross-border aggression.

Targeting Civilian Infrastructure as Strategic Signaling

In a notable shift in targeting priority, the Israeli Air Force conducted a strike on the Tarfalsi–Zrariyeh bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon. The IDF justified the destruction of the vital transportation artery by claiming it served as a "message to the Lebanese state" for its alleged failure to restrict Hezbollah’s movement. According to military officials, the bridge was a central route for the transfer of weapons and operatives from northern Lebanon to the southern front. The destruction of the bridge is part of a wider effort to pressure the Lebanese government into disarming the group, with Defense Minister Israel Katz warning that the state would pay a "heavy price" if Hezbollah continues to operate freely.

Intensified Aerial Campaign Against Iranian Assets

Parallel to the Lebanese front, the Israeli military reported an unprecedented volume of strikes within Iran, claiming to have hit more than 2,000 targets in western and central regions over the last 24 hours. These operations are part of a broader campaign launched on February 28 alongside the United States, following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Israeli Air Force stated that its strikes targeted headquarters, weapons production facilities, and missile programs. According to military estimates, the sustained pressure has resulted in significant personnel losses for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary, as the coalition seeks to degrade Iran’s conventional and nuclear support structures.