Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to expand a military operation on the northern front with Lebanon, an Israeli media outlet said, Anadolu reports.

Channel 13 reported that Netanyahu made the statement during a strategic dialogue session on Thursday to discuss the escalation on the northern front, without specifying the parties involved in the session.

Israel is “on the verge of a broad and strong operation on the northern front,” he said.

The channel quoted an unnamed senior official from Netanyahu’s office who said, “No date has yet been set” for the escalation “but it is expected in the near future.”

It added that the Cabinet is scheduled to meet next week to discuss the escalation.

The report noted that unnamed Israeli security officials said expanding the conflict on the northern front would require reducing the country’s military presence in the Gaza Strip at the same time.