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By Lilith Foster-Collins, Michael D. Carroll, and Barney Henderson
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Israel's army chief has said the military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon.
Addressing troops on the northern border, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said the latest Israeli airstrikes were designed to "prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah."
In an apparent reference to a missile aimed at Tel Aviv, he said: "Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves."
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To achieve the goal of returning the displaced citizens of northern Israel to their homes, "we are preparing the process of a maneuver," he said.
U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that "all-out war" is still possible as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, but he's hopeful an off-ramp can be found to prevent further bloodshed.
In recent days, the Israeli military has said it had no immediate plans for a ground invasion. Halevi's statement was the strongest yet from an Israeli leader suggesting that troops could move in.
Two reserve brigades move north to border
The Israeli military announced earlier on Wednesday it would activate reserve troops in response to the attack by Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it would call up two reserve brigades to bolster its forces in the north.
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"This will enable the continuation of combat against the Hezbollah terrorist organization," the military added.
This strike early on Wednesday included a surface-to-surface missile aimed at Tel Aviv and marks Hezbollah's most far-reaching attack to date.
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Hezbollah attacks Israel in rocket barrage
Israel reported that it successfully intercepted the missile targeting Tel Aviv, with no casualties or damage reported, despite widespread air-raid sirens in the city and across central Israel.
The Israeli military retaliated by striking the launch site in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had fired a Qader 1 ballistic missile at what it said was the headquarters of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
Hezbollah accused the agency of being behind recent targeted assassinations of Hezbollah leaders.
Israeli officials have not confirmed this claim, but noted that this is the first time a missile launched from Lebanon has reached central Israel.
Hezbollah also fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel on Wednesday, injuring two people in the community of Kibbutz Saar.
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Israel retaliated with airstrikes, killing at least three people and wounding nine in the coastal town of Byblos, north of Beirut, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry.
The missile launch follows a series of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon on Monday and Tuesday that killed at least 560 people.
Thousands of civilians have fled to Beirut and Sidon, turning to schools, cars, parks, and beaches for shelter.
Many are attempting to escape the country, causing significant congestion at the Syrian border.
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