Israel’s military said it was reinforcing its forces in northern Israel as the conflict with Hezbollah continues to escalate, ordering a significant buildup of troops following a fresh operational assessment.

The Israeli army said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had instructed a “broad reinforcement” of forces under the Northern Command to strengthen preparedness for “a range of offensive and defensive scenarios.”

According to a military statement, the deployment will include additional units from the standing army, notably the 98th Division along with two brigade-level combat teams and combat engineering battalions.

To facilitate the redeployment, reservists from the 252nd Division will be mobilized and sent to the Gaza Strip, where they will replace regular army units that are being reassigned to the north. The military also said it would extend the service time of several reserve battalions operating under the Central Command.

The announcement comes after Israeli forces pushed deeper into southern Lebanon this week. The military said the move was aimed at “establishing a forward defense that will create an additional security layer for the residents of the north.”