The Israeli army announced that its ground operation against the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement "is expanding to other areas" after crossing the Litani River in southern Lebanon. The army "crossed the Litani and expanded its operations against Hezbollah targets north of the river. The operation is expanding to other areas," it wrote on the social media platform X.
The crossing of the Litani, about 30 kilometers north of the border with Israel, was announced on Friday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier declared that much of southern Lebanon was now a "combat zone," despite a theoretical ceasefire in place.
The Israeli army said it launched an offensive "a few days ago" in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki region of southern Lebanon, "with the aim of eliminating direct threats to the towns of Northern Galilee and Metula, and as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen operational control in southern Lebanon."
A significant number of Israeli soldiers "launched offensive operations aimed at extending the forward line of defense," he added.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam yesterday accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched earth policy" against his country. Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue almost daily despite the April 17 ceasefire, which has never been respected. Since the beginning of hostilities, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed 3,371 people and displaced over a million, according to Lebanese authorities.
(Unioneonline)
