Israel says that halting Hezbollah’s attacks in the country's north to allow its residents to return to their homes there is now an official war goal as it considers a wider military operation in Lebanon. Israeli officials have repeatedly threatened to take heavier military action to halt the near-daily attacks by the militant Hezbollah group. The attacks began shortly after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Israel has regularly launched airstrikes in response and has targeted and killed senior Hezbollah commanders. The fighting has displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border. Hezbollah has said it would halt the attacks if there is a cease-fire in Gaza, and the U.S. has pressed for restraint.
