The remarks by Lt Gen Halevi are the plainest indication yet from a senior figure that a ground invasion into Lebanon may be imminent.
“We keep striking and hitting them everywhere,” he told soldiers from the 7th Brigade taking part in an exercise on Israel’s northern border on Wednesday – in a statement quoted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“The goal is very clear – to safely return the residents of the north. To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots… will enter enemy territory.”
Lt Gen Halevi said troops would “destroy the enemy” and its infrastructure.
There was no immediate sign that Israel was poised to enter Lebanon and the US Pentagon said on Wednesday it did not appear “imminent”.
But the IDF chief of staff’s remarks were published shortly after the IDF called up two reserve brigades for “operational missions in the northern arena”.
When a BBC team visited an Israeli border town on Wednesday, the army said that Hezbollah fighters must move well back from the border, to positions north of the Litani River, as demanded by a UN resolution passed in 2006.
Israel’s allies, including the US, have said they are working to avoid all-out war in the region.
Several media reports on Wednesday said senior US officials were attempting to broker a short-term pause in fighting between the two sides.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with US President Joe Biden at the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss efforts to secure a ceasefire.
Shortly after the talks, France said the two countries were proposing a “temporary ceasefire” of 21 days “to allow for negotiations”.
“There cannot be a war in Lebanon. This is why we urge Israel to cease this escalation in Lebanon and to Hezbollah to cease this missile launch to Israel,” Mr Macron told the UN.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire, and said “hell is breaking loose”.
Lebanese PM Najib Mikati said his country is “facing a blatant violation of our sovereignty and human rights through the brutal practices of the Israeli enemy”.
He added he hoped he could leave the UN session with a “serious solution” to “put pressure on Israel to achieve an immediate ceasefire on all fronts”. Asked by Reuters if a ceasefire can be reached soon, he responded: “Hopefully, yes.”
Israel’s envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, said it was grateful for diplomatic efforts to avoid escalation but would use “all use all means at our disposal, in accordance with international law, to achieve our aims”.
He said Israel “does not seek a full-scale war”, and has made its desire for peace “clear”.
Mr Danon added that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu will arrive in New York on Thursday, have bilaterial meetings later that day and speak at the General Assembly the following morning.