The IDF on Sunday published two previously classified documents from the beginning of the 2006 Second Lebanon War in honor of the war's 20th anniversary.
The documents include the general staff's orders, named "Operation Just Remission," to launch IDF operations in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip, and the mid-war order to expand the IDF's operations in southern Lebanon towards the Litani River.
The 34-day war followed a combined Hezbollah attack on northern Israel on the morning of July 12, 2006, targeting both IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.
Near the border fence between the villages of Shtoula and Zar'it, Hezbollah attacked an IDF patrol and kidnapped two soldiers: Eldad Regev (26) from Kiryat Motzkin, and Ehud Goldwasser (31) from Nahariya.
Eight soldiers were killed and several others wounded, according to the published general staff order.
Simultaneously, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets towards Israel's northern communities, killing six civilians.
Further, the order states that the Israel Air Force's preperations to strike targets in Lebanese territory, and the IDF's readiness for Hezbollah to launch additional rockets at the North.
Second Lebanon War ops. expand towards Litani River
The second document allowed for publication is the IDF spokesperson's statement from August 12, 2006, summarizing the cabinet's decision to expand the military's ground operations in Lebanon towards the Litani River in coordination with the IAF and Israeli navy.
The defined goal was to operate in areas from which rockets are launched at Israel, reduce the firing on Israeli civilians, and deepen the damage to the Hezbollah organization.
"Today we believe in the threat - much more than we believed then," a senior IDF official shared with Walla. "Today there is no such thing as no response."
Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.