Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday (Sep 17) a significant expansion of his country's war objectives. Israel's war goals now include the return of northern residents who fled because of clashes with Hezbollah. 

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This comes as, nearly a year into the Gaza war, Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar on Monday (Sep 16) said that the militant group has prepared itself to fight a "long war".

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Israel's war goals

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In a statement, PM Netanyahu's office said that the nation's political-security cabinet has "updated the goals of the war this evening so that they include the following section: the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes."

Previously, on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, in conversation with a visiting US envoy, stressed that "military action" was the "only way left to ensure the return of Israel's northern communities to their homes".

Cross-border fire with Hezbollah, a key Hamas ally, has been intensifying since the conflict began on October 7. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has been engaging in near-daily strikes with Israeli forces. Although the group has suggested it would stand down if a ceasefire in Gaza were reached, Israel insists that it cannot tolerate militants near its northern border. 

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Hamas' long war

Meanwhile, on the Gaza front, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar declared that the group is prepared for a long fight, backed by Iran-backed regional allies.

In a letter to Yemeni allies - the Houthis, Sinwar, who took over as Hamas leader last month after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, said: "We have prepared ourselves to fight a long war of attrition". 

Sinwar, as per AFP, also threatened that Iran-backed groups in Gaza and elsewhere in the region would "break the enemy's political will".

"Our combined efforts with you" and with groups in Lebanon and Iraq "will break this enemy and inflict defeat on it," said the Hamas leader.

(With inputs from agencies)