Israel has expanded the goals of its military operation in Gaza, according to the Financial Times.

On September 17, 2024, the Israeli army expanded the goals of its nearly year-long campaign in the Gaza Strip to include protecting the northern front from Hezbollah, raising concerns about a possible escalation of the conflict with the Lebanese militant group. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet voted to include “the safe return of northerners to their homes” in the war’s goals.

Analysts see the decision as a shift in the IDF's priorities in the context of the ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to the Financial Times, Netanyahu made scathing comments about Hezbollah at a cabinet meeting on September 15, expressing sympathy for the suffering of northern Israel and promising that “the current situation will not continue.”

Recall that on September 4, there was an exchange of air strikes between Israel and Hezbollah. After rocket attacks on northern Israel, which caused fires, the Israeli side struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, causing minimal damage, the military reported.