Israel has announced a significant expansion of its military operations along the northern border in southern Lebanon in response to continued rocket fire from Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move aims to strengthen Israel’s security and prevent attacks on northern communities.
Speaking in a video statement from the Israeli Northern Command, Netanyahu said, “We eliminated thousands of Hezbollah fighters and neutralized much of their missile threat, but they still retain the capability to launch attacks. We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north.”
Last week, Israel had begun enlarging a buffer zone up to the Litani River, though details remain unclear on whether the latest expansion involves additional territory. Defence Minister Israel Katz noted that Israeli forces would control remaining strategic areas in the region to secure the border.
Hezbollah began firing rockets after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, leading to a surge in regional hostilities. Lebanese sources report more than 1,100 people, including civilians, have been killed in ongoing strikes, while Israel reports four of its soldiers have died in combat operations.
Netanyahu emphasised that the northern campaign is part of a broader, multi-front effort against Iran and its allied groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, aiming to curb Iran’s influence in the region and secure Israel’s borders.
Meanwhlile, a paramedic health worker of the World Health Organization was killed in southern Lebanon due to Israel’s expanding military operations in the region.
