Israeli Troops Move Deeper Into Lebanon Amid Ongoing Conflict
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT: On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he has ordered the military to advance further into Lebanon in its fight against the Iran-supported Hezbollah group. This decision comes despite a ceasefire that was declared more than six weeks ago.
The conflict in Lebanon has resulted in the displacement of over 1.2 million people due to Israeli airstrikes and evacuation orders since March 2. The fighting began when Hezbollah started launching rockets and drones into Israel to back Iran, leading to significant casualties on both sides. According to the Lebanese government, more than 3,370 people have lost their lives in the fighting, while Israel reports 24 soldiers and four civilians killed during the same period. The ongoing violence has also forced tens of thousands of Israelis in northern regions to evacuate due to the threat of Hezbollah attacks.
Recently, Israeli forces captured the historic Beaufort Castle and a key ridge in southern Lebanon. This action came after one of the most intense days of Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel since the ceasefire, leading to school closures and heightened security measures.
“I instructed the military to expand its ground operations in Lebanon,” Netanyahu stated in an announcement.
Since the mid-April ceasefire, the exchange of fire between Israeli troops and Hezbollah has persisted. Hezbollah has been using low-cost, easy-to-build kamikaze drones, which have proven difficult for Israeli air defenses to intercept, causing casualties among Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon.
While Israeli forces previously controlled areas up to the Litani River, they are now pushing toward the Zaharani River, about 10 kilometers north. Netanyahu emphasized that the goal is to “strengthen our hold on regions previously controlled by Hezbollah.”
