BREAKING: Israel Braces for War. IDF Rejects Ceasefire, Launches Multi-Phase Assault on Iran and Hezbollah

In a sharp departure from diplomatic calls for de-escalation, Israel’s military has signaled it is bracing for a prolonged conflict with Iran, despite President Donald Trump's demands for a ceasefire and Tehran's announcement that it has terminated its attacks. As reported by Maariv, the IDF insists that the Iranian missile barrage was a clear ceasefire violation that was anticipated, not a surprise. Consequently, Tel Aviv has activated pre-written contingency plans, launching retaliatory strikes against targets in both Iran and Lebanon while preparing its forces for what could be an extended period of fighting.

The Israeli military explicitly frames the recent events not as a new round of hostilities but as a direct continuation of an ongoing campaign. This narrative shift suggests that Israel views the two-month ceasefire as a paused interlude rather than a concluded chapter.

"We are preparing as an army for several days of fighting and even for an extended period," military sources told Maariv, emphasizing that the IDF has been conducting situation assessments throughout the ceasefire to prepare for exactly this scenario.

Following the launch of 22 missiles from Iran and a single interdicted missile from Yemen, Israel executed a multi-phase response. The first wave was split into two stages, followed by subsequent waves of attacks. According to the report, the Israeli Air Force struck a petrochemical complex in Iran and three factories dedicated to manufacturing components for ballistic missile systems. The military stressed that these are not retaliatory "punishment" moves but strategic actions aimed at degrading the Iranian regime's capabilities and deepening damage to its military infrastructure.

"On the defensive side," the Maariv noted, "Israel bolstered its air defense network with nine additional systems." This comprehensive readiness extends across all fronts, with tight coordination maintained with the United States. The IDF Chief of Staff spoke three times with the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command since the previous day, and joint situation assessments were conducted overnight. While the Americans were fully briefed and not surprised by the escalation, the IDF clarified that the offensive operations in Iran were conducted solely by Israel.

The conflict has also intensified on the Lebanese front. In a targeted strike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Israel hit a safe house used by mid-level Hezbollah operatives, including those involved in the development of explosive drones. The IDF confirmed that two Hezbollah operatives were killed and nine others were wounded in the operation. This action serves as a stark reminder that Israel will not tolerate a new status quo where it is threatened without responding.

"We have determined in advance that we will not allow intimidation, nor will we allow a new reality to be created in Lebanon," military officials stated.

Security officials in Israel are now weighing two primary scenarios: one where Iran resumes fire while Hezbollah remains on the sidelines, and another where Hezbollah actively joins the war. While Israel is actively working to prevent the connection between these theaters, it remains fully prepared for the latter possibility.

The central question now is whether American interests in preventing regional escalation or Israeli interests in exploiting the ceasefire breach to further degrade Tehran's regime will dominate the coming weeks. With the IDF preparing for an extended campaign, the window for a quick diplomatic resolution appears to be closing.