Israel’s military forces have achieved most of its goals within the area of operations for its ground forces that stretch two miles into southern Lebanon from Israel’s border, according to a source with direct knowledge.
The source said that Israeli forces have destroyed most of Hezbollah’s assets in that two-mile field of operations that stretches along the border region into Lebanon.
It is estimated that more than 50% of the Iranian-backed group’s advanced weaponry has been destroyed by Israeli forces, according to the source.
U.S. efforts to mediate a cease-fire have so far not been successful but the source expressed confidence that a deal might be possible in the next few weeks.
Israel’s military can still achieve its goals in the area of limited operations in southern Lebanon and said that doing so would not get in the way of establishing a cease-fire with Hezbollah, the source told ABC News.
Israeli leaders have said they undertook the ground incursion and airstrikes against Hezbollah as a means of allowing the safe return of tens of thousands of Israeli residents to their homes in northern Israel.
Those residents left their homes as Hezbollah began launching rockets into northern Israel regularly in the wake of Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.
Israel has described its ground incursion into southern Lebanon as a “limited operation” that has also included airstrikes deep into Lebanon including airstrikes in the capital city of Beirut.
A regional security official said Friday that additional airstrikes have killed 25 of Hezbollah’s top 30 leaders and commanders.
-ABC News' Luis Martinez