Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered military forces to significantly expand their operations in southern Lebanon, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict that has drawn Lebanon into the broader Middle East war.
I have now instructed to further expand the existing security zone in order to finally thwart the threat of invasion and to push the anti-tank missile fire away from our border
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister — SBS News
The directive comes as Israeli forces advance toward the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers north of Israel's border with Lebanon. Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans for forces to control bridges and establish a security zone extending to the river, though Netanyahu's office has declined to provide additional details about the expanded operations.
The escalation follows Lebanon's entry into the conflict on March 2, when Iran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel in response to joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran conducted on February 28. The militant group has maintained its offensive operations as part of what it characterizes as resistance to Israeli actions in the region.
Casualty figures reflect the intensifying nature of the conflict. Lebanese health ministry data indicates that Israeli strikes and ground operations have killed more than 1,100 people in Lebanon, including children, women, and medical personnel. Hezbollah has reportedly lost over 400 fighters since launching its campaign, while the Israeli military acknowledges four soldiers killed in southern Lebanon fighting.