The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing to expand its operations in Lebanon in the near future, an Israeli source told CNN on Monday, saying the moves are being “coordinated with the United States.”
The IDF is also pushing to renew strikes on Beirut and target senior Hezbollah figures there, the source added.
The more aggressive military approach will be aimed at countering Hezbollah’s drone threat, the source said. The threat includes fiber-optic drones, which Israel has struggled to deal with.
Earlier Monday, the IDF said that Hezbollah had launched “a number of explosive drones” toward Israeli soldiers and Israeli territory. Some of the drones came down inside Israel, but no injuries were reported, the IDF said.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire last month, though fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has continued on a near-daily basis.
Israeli attacks have largely remained south of the Litani River, where Israeli troops are also occupying a swath of territory along the border. Hezbollah has continued to target Israel border communities with drones and rockets.
In a video posted Monday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country will “intensify the blows” and “increase the force” used against Hezbollah.
“We are not taking our foot off the gas pedal; on the contrary … we need to push the gas pedal even harder,” Netanyahu said.
The IDF said late Monday it was striking Hezbollah sites in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, as well as “additional areas” across the country, including the city of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast.
In a separate statement, the IDF said it “struck more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure sites” across the country on Monday, including command centers, weapons storage facilities and other sites used by the militant group in Tyre.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency also reported strikes on towns in southern Lebanon on Monday evening.
CNN’s Eyad Kourdi contributed to this report. This post has been updated with developments.