On October 8, the Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the deployment of their 4th Division, which has brought thousands of additional ground troops into Lebanon, indicating a marked escalation in their military campaign against Hezbollah. Reports suggest that the total number of Israeli soldiers in Lebanon may now exceed 20,000. In a surprising development, high-ranking officials from Hezbollah recently indicated a willingness to engage in ceasefire negotiations with Israel, signaling a shift from their previous stance that demanded a ceasefire in Gaza as a prerequisite.
The Financial Times reported that the Israeli military has indeed dispatched its fourth operational division to southern Lebanon, pointing to a significant uptick in troop levels since the ground offensive began last week.
Additionally, the 146th Division of Israeli reservists was deployed to southern Lebanon overnight. While the military has not released official figures, estimates suggest that each division could comprise up to 10,000 personnel.
In response, Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem emphasized the group’s commitment to continue fighting, even introducing a new successor to the late leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month. “I want to assure you: our offensive capabilities remain intact,” Qassem stated, highlighting recent attacks on Israel as proof of their determination. He further remarked, “This is a war of endurance; we will not be the first to cry.”
Despite this resolve, Qassem also expressed openness to diplomatic avenues for achieving a ceasefire in Lebanon. This marks a significant shift from Hezbollah’s earlier position, which insisted that any cessation of hostilities with Israel would hinge on a truce being established in Gaza first. His recent comments, which do not condition a Gaza ceasefire as a prerequisite for peace in Lebanon, have raised eyebrows among analysts and observers.
