Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he has instructed the military to broaden its operations in southern Lebanon in response to ongoing rocket attacks by Hezbollah. This move follows Israel’s recent expansion of a “buffer zone” reaching up to the Litani River, though it remains unclear if Netanyahu’s directive pertains to this area or involves capturing additional territory.
In a video statement from the Israeli Northern Command, Netanyahu emphasized the goal of extending the security zone to prevent potential invasions and to push anti-tank missile fire away from Israel’s border. His office has not released further specifics, and the security cabinet has yet to discuss the new orders.
Last week, Defence Minister Israel Katz declared that Israeli forces would maintain control over the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani River, which flows into the Mediterranean roughly 30 kilometers north of Israel’s border.
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Lebanese health authorities reporting over 1,100 deaths in Lebanon, including children, women, and medical workers, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has confirmed the deaths of four soldiers in southern Lebanon fighting.
Netanyahu highlighted that the expansion aims to reinforce Israel’s security along its northern border. He noted that although the threat from Hezbollah’s arsenal of approximately 150,000 missiles and rockets—intended to target Israeli cities—has been largely neutralized, the group still retains some capability to launch attacks. “We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north,” he asserted.
Furthermore, Netanyahu described Israel’s ongoing multi-front campaign against Iran and its allied groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza, stating that these operations are diminishing Iran’s influence across the region.
