Israel says that halting Hezbollah's attacks in the country's north to allow its residents to return to their homes there is now an official war goal as it considers a wider military operation in Lebanon.

The addition of the new war aim may push Israel to shift its military focus to its northern front as it warns that its patience for reaching a diplomatic solution with Hezbollah is running thin.

Israel has a new war goal, adding to mounting signs that the conflict could soon expand to the country's north as it warned the U.S. that “military action” would likely be the only way to address mounting hostilities with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.