Report: Meeting Held to Prepare Israelis for Potential War With Hezbollah

By Yoni Weiss

Yediot reported on Tuesday that a meeting was held last Thursday to brief Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on preparations for a possible full-scale conflict with Hezbollah in the north.

Given the speculation that Israel may be responsible for the recent killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi on Monday, there is a pressing need to ready the public for a potential showdown with Hezbollah and its Iranian backers.

Gallant directed officials to gauge public sentiment regarding the prospect of war and determine the most effective way to disseminate information in anticipation of such an eventuality. While there is a consensus among officials about the necessity of a public awareness campaign, the specifics are still under discussion.

Reportedly, Gallant is not only concerned about how the Israeli public will react to the heightened likelihood of war, but also about Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s response to such a campaign. Nasrallah closely monitors Israeli media and often analyzes public sentiment in Israel, potentially viewing the campaign as an opportunity to escalate hostilities with Israel.

Nasrallah has already achieved a strategic victory by prompting the evacuation of citizens from communities near the Lebanon border. However, his elite Radwan forces have faced setbacks, being pushed back approximately five kilometers from the border. There is also mounting pressure within Lebanon to avoid further conflict.

The challenge of the campaign has troubled IDF leadership since around 2006. Even if the media focuses on the precise number of Hezbollah missiles, it’s believed that most people either don’t know or prefer to ignore the facts. For instance, Hezbollah could potentially launch as many rockets in a day as Hamas did on Oct. 7, amounting to around 4,000.

“We need to expedite the campaign,” summarized a knowledgeable source. “Citizens need to be fully informed about what we’re preparing for — not to induce panic, but to heighten awareness. Preparedness is key because it saves lives. We’ve seen this with Iron Dome: Despite the barrage of missiles fired at Israel, casualties on the home front remain relatively low. The public has been responsive to guidelines and should act similarly in the event of a full-scale confrontation with Hezbollah.”