Israel-Gaza updates: IDF says it's 'dismantled' Hamas' military framework

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Thursday that diplomatic solutions with Hezbollah are running out.

Gallant made the remark at the Israeli Ministry of Defense heaquarters in Tel Aviv during a meeting with Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden. The two discussed the situation in northern Israel and along the border with Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been exchanging fire with Hezbollah. The Lebanese militant group has voiced support for Palestinians amid Israel"s ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

"There is only one possible result -- a new reality in the northern arena, which will enable the secure return of our citizens," Gallant said. "Yet we find ourselves at a junction -- there is a short window of time for diplomatic understandings, which we prefer. We will not tolerate the threats posed by the Iranian proxy, Hezbollah, and we will ensure the security of our citizens."

-ABC News' Will Gretsky and Morgan Winsor

The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday morning that one of its fighter jets struck an "observation post and terrorist infrastructure" belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

An "anti-tank missile terrorist cell in the same area" was also identified and struck, according to the IDF.

The IDF said its soldiers fired mortar shells overnight "in order to remove a threat" in another area of southern Lebanon, which shares a border with Israel.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah on the Israeli strikes.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor

The White House was pressed on Wednesday about how close Israel may be to its stated goal of eradicating Hamas, as the death count in Gaza surpasses 22,000.

Notably, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby declined to give specific stats on damage done to Hamas but said, “Hamas still has a significant force posture inside Gaza.”

“We have estimates. I’m loath to put the numbers out there now because they are just estimates but Hamas still has a significant force posture inside Gaza,” he said in response to a question about how many more Hamas fighters are left.

He added that Israel has said they’ve been successful “against a range of leadership” and have “without question” had an effect on “Hamas' ability to command and control itself, to resource itself, and quite frankly to lead their troops.”

But he wouldn’t give specifics on how many members of Hamas have been killed or any measures of progress that Israel has made.

“I've been trying real hard not to give them a report card here and I think that is a wise thing for us to do, is to refrain from analyzing and armchair-quarterbacking their military operations,” Kirby said.

Still, on multiple occasions, he was asked if Israel can still eradicate Hamas, which has been the country’s stated goal.

“It can be done militarily. Are you going to eliminate the ideology? No. And are you likely going to erase the group from existence? Probably not. But can you eliminate the threat that Hamas poses to the Israeli people? Absolutely,” Kirby said.

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett

The head of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassam Nasrallah, said in a speech Wednesday that the killing of deputy Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri was a "serious and heinous crime that will not remain without response and punishment."

"Whoever thinks about war with us will regret it and it will be costly," al-Arouri said in Arabic.

Nasrallah said they did receive messages that the assassination of al-Arouri was "not targeting Lebanon and the southern suburbs."

The speech Wednesday was the first time the leader of the Lebanese group has spoken since Nov. 3. It followed the death Tuesday of al-Arouri in a bombing.

Israel has not claimed responsibility, but Hamas and Hezbollah have pointed the blame.

-ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz and Ellie Kaufman