Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman warned on Tuesday of the possibility of war in the north and south, saying that the defense establishment must be prepared for any scenario. Speaking to soldier groups at the Defense Ministry sukkah in Tel Aviv, he said the northern front will be one sector, "Syria and Lebanon together," adding that "the Lebanese army has lost its independence, and has become an integral part of the Hezbollah network." He said no matter where the war breaks out, it will immediately become a battle on two fronts.
Stressing the importance of unity, Liberman noted that "our entire effort is to prevent the next war, but in the 'new' Middle East, the assessments we have previously known, such as low probability, are simply irrelevant assessments. The reality is fragile. It can happen from moment to moment and from today to tomorrow." According to Liberman, Israel should be prepared for surprises, explaining "We are supposed to prepare for every possible scenario, and the new reality also prepares new challenges for us."