The Israel Defense Forces announced on Friday that they were calling up at least 3,000 reservists to active duty. Many analysts say this is a sign that Israel is planning a major ground operation in Lebanon designed to further diminish the military power of the militant group Hezbollah.
It will take several days for mobilization to be completed. Some speculate that the reservists will be put into action in the West Bank so that more experienced combat troops will be freed to fight against Hamas guerillas.
Thus far, Israel has limited its ground operations in Lebanon to special forces units designed to find and destroy tunnels used by Hezbollah fighters to smuggle men and weapons into the area.
Hezbollah, which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, has fired an estimated 1,000 rockets at Israeli towns and cities, killing at least 34 Israelis. The Israel Defense Forces counterattack into Lebanon has killed more than 300 Lebanese with an estimated 500,000 people being forced to leave their homes as a result of the fighting.
Israel's stated goal in this war is to secure its border with Lebanon and prevent future rocket attacks by the terrorist group Hezbollah from threatening Israeli population centers. Hezbollah receives both weapons and funding from Iran and its ally, Syria. Israeli leaders have indicated the mission will be completed only when Hezbollah's ability to attack Israel has been significantly diminished.
