ZeroHedge.com<\/p>\n
Update(1544)<\/u>:<\/strong>\u00a0As many suspected and feared, this deadly two-day Israeli covert operation to blow up Hezbollah pagers, walkie-talkies, and small electronic devices was but preparation for a likely Israeli military ground operation in southern Lebanon.\u00a0It appears war is here<\/strong>. According to breaking news wires:<\/p>\n Israeli cabinet has given PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant the authorization to undertake military action against Hezbollah — even if it leads to an all-out war.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n So far the second day of explosions across Beirut and Lebanon have led to\u00a020 killed and 450 wounded<\/strong>, but the casualty toll could be much higher.<\/p>\n Defense Minister Gallant has also declared a “new phase” of operations against Hezbollah along\u00a0northern Israel<\/a>:<\/p>\n Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF chief Herzi Halevi and other officials all issued statements Wednesday evening which appeared to suggest a full-on war with Hezbollah was brewing, hours after a wave of\u00a0explosions of walkie-talkies<\/a>\u00a0and other communications devices used by Hezbollah members across Lebanon caused widespread casualties, echoing a similar attack a day earlier that targeted Hezbollah-issued pagers.<\/em><\/p>\n The IDF also announced Wednesday that it was redeploying its 98th Division to northern Israel, after months of operations in the Gaza Strip under the Southern Command.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Israel has further just ordered an elite brigade to\u00a0the north<\/a>:<\/p>\n The Israeli army announced it\u2019s transferring the 98th Division from the Gaza Strip to the northern border with Lebanon as tensions continue to escalate.<\/em><\/p>\n