Israel says it is shifting war focus to 'northern front' in new phase

Following the explosions in Lebanon, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has announced a "new phase" of the war.

The focus is on the "northern front," several Israeli media outlets reported on Wednesday, citing Gallant's office.

The Israeli army and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia have been engaged in skirmishes on Israel's northern front for months.

Forces and resources are to be relocated to the north, the Israeli media quoted Gallant as saying.

The Times of Israel newspaper online quoted Gallant as saying that Israel’s war goals in the north are "clear and simple: to return the residents of the towns in the north to their homes safely."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also promised this again in a video address.

According to Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi, the Israeli army is prepared to do whatever is necessary to create the conditions for this. "We still have many capabilities that we have not yet used," the general asserted.

"We have not forgotten the hostages and we have not forgotten our tasks in the south," Gallant also pointed out.

"This is our duty and we are performing it at the same time," Gallant added.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war almost a year ago, confrontations between Hezbollah and the Israeli military have occurred almost daily. Tens of thousands of people on both sides have had to flee their homes.

Hezbollah, which is allied with the Palestinian militant Hamas movement, has said it will only allow the weapons to fall silent when a ceasefire has been reached in the Gaza Strip.

At least nine people were killed and more than 300 injured in new explosions of electronic devices in Lebanon on Wednesday, according to official reports.

Hezbollah and Iran blame Israel for the alleged coordinated attack on hundreds of radio receivers. Israel has not officially commented on this.