Israeli military says ground operations in Lebanon ‘expanding to additional areas’
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military said on Sunday its forces were advancing in Lebanon as part of expanded ground operations to strengthen its military position in the south of the country, where it is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah.
“A significant number of IDF ground soldiers commenced offensive operations aimed at expanding the Forward Defense Line … The operation is currently expanding to additional areas,” the Israeli military statement said, adding its forces had crossed the Litani river.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that Israeli forces had crossed Lebanon’s Litani River, which runs around 30 kilometers north of the countries’ shared border.
A truce to halt the fighting between Israel and Tehran-backed Hezbollah officially took effect on April 17, but has never been observed.
