The Israeli army announced today that its ground operation against Hezbollah is 'expanding to other areas' two days after announcing that Israeli soldiers crossed the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
The army 'crossed the Litani and is expanding its operations against Hezbollah targets north of the river. The operation is expanding to other areas,' an Israeli Defense Forces post on X emphasizes.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israeli armed forces crossed the Litani River, about 30 kilometers north of the border with Israel, and are advancing into strategically important areas. Earlier, Netanyahu had said that the army declared much of southern Lebanon a 'combat zone' despite the ceasefire theoretically in effect since April 17.
Today, the Israeli army stressed that it launched an attack 'a few days ago' on the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki in southern Lebanon, aiming to eliminate immediate threats in areas north of Galilee and Metula, and as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen operational control in southern Lebanon.
'A significant number of Israeli soldiers have begun offensive operations aimed at expanding the forward defense line,' it added.
Yesterday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned Israel's 'dangerous and unprecedented escalation,' saying that the Israeli army is waging a policy of 'scorched earth and collective punishment,' that it is 'destroying towns and villages and displacing their residents,' stressing that this 'will bring it neither security nor stability.'
Source: APE
