Beirut: An Israeli military official has projected that the ongoing conflict in Lebanon will extend until May 26, as reported by local media outlets on Monday. A senior officer from the army's Northern Command, during a confidential meeting with reserve soldiers, indicated that the fighting on the northern front could persist for several weeks, potentially concluding around the Jewish holiday of Shavuot on May 26, as noted by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

According to Anadolu Agency, the military's objectives include exploiting the potential collapse of the Iranian regime to dismantle Hezbollah and obliterate infrastructure that the group reconstructed during the ceasefire. Additionally, they aim to complete the destruction of remaining weapons depots and military equipment. The officer emphasized to the reservists that the military campaign is ongoing and is not confined to a specific timeframe, stating, "We will remain here as long as necessary."

The uncertainty regarding the duration of the conflict has led to confusion among reservists, especially with the Jewish holiday of Passover approaching in early April. The newspaper highlighted that many soldiers are uncertain about the length of their service and are experiencing increasing fatigue.

Currently, Israeli forces are operating approximately 7 to 9 kilometers (4 to 6 miles) inside Lebanese territory, with the possibility of extending their control as they prepare for a more extensive ground operation, the newspaper reported.

Earlier on Monday, Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party and an opposition figure, expressed concerns on the US social media platform X, warning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government seems to be steering towards a ground invasion that could entangle the army in what he described as a "Lebanon quagmire and another endless war."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the army has initiated a ground offensive in Lebanon. Furthermore, on Sunday, Israel's public broadcaster disclosed that the military had requested government approval to mobilize 450,000 reservists in preparation for the Lebanon offensive. This request is anticipated to be presented shortly to government ministers and members of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The Israeli army expanded its airstrikes across Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, on March 2 following a cross-border attack by Hezbollah amid regional escalation in the aftermath of a joint offensive by Washington and Tel Aviv against Iran. Lebanese health authorities have reported that the Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 850 fatalities, including 66 women and 107 children, injured 2,105 individuals, and displaced over 830,000 people.

Israel occupies several areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others seized during the most recent conflict between October 2023 and November 2024.