Israel 'denies' March 15 deadline as Halevi 'orders plan' for Lebanon incursion

Israeli military officials have denied a Lebanese report that claimed that Israel would launch a major attack in Lebanon if no diplomatic deal was reached by March 15, Israel’s Channel 13 reported.

“There’s no date for going to war in Lebanon,” an unnamed source was quoted as saying.

Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi meanwhile instructed Brig. Gen. Moshe Chico Tamir to “prepare several possible plans for a ground operation in Lebanon,” Channel 13 said.

The channel pointed out that "Tamir had great experience in the northern sector when he was in his last position as deputy commander of the Northern Corps of the Israeli army."

“Tamir will develop a number of incursion plans of different scopes, including limited entry, which aims to push Hezbollah to withdraw eight to 10 kilometers off the border,” the channel said.

Hezbollah has targeted Israeli positions across the border almost daily since an October 7 attack by its Palestinian ally Hamas triggered war with Israel. Israeli forces have responded with strikes against Hezbollah positions as well as targeted operations against senior officials.

The border clashes since October have killed at least 303 people in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but including 50 civilians. On the Israeli side, 10 soldiers and seven civilians have been killed according to the Israeli army.

Israel has also threatened to use bigger force against Hezbollah to secure the return of around 80,000 Israelis displaced from northern Israel.