by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – Israel’s military said Tuesday it had expanded its troop deployment deeper into southern Lebanon as fighting with the Hezbollah terror group intensified along the northern border.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said soldiers from the 91st “Galilee” Division had moved beyond five existing forward positions and taken control of additional “dominant terrain” near the border as part of an “enhanced forward defense posture.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the move was intended to prevent Hezbollah from launching direct attacks on Israeli communities in the north.
“To prevent the possibility of direct fire at Israeli communities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorized the IDF to advance and hold additional dominant terrain in Lebanon and defend the border communities from there,” Katz said.
The deployment comes after the Iran-backed Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones toward northern Israel on Monday following Israel’s killing of Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with an intensive wave of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure across Lebanon.
According to the IDF, the Israeli Air Force carried out “extensive” overnight strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon, hitting weapons depots, command centers, and communications systems used by Hezbollah’s intelligence division. Lebanese media reported that facilities linked to Hezbollah-run outlets Al-Manar television and Al-Nour radio were among the targets.
The Israeli military said it also struck more than 160 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the past day, including operatives from the group’s elite Radwan Force and command sites used to coordinate attacks on Israel.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued its barrage, launching more than a dozen rockets and several drones toward Israel on Tuesday. One rocket struck a home in the Galilee Panhandle, lightly injuring a 64-year-old man and causing several others to suffer anxiety-related symptoms, according to Israeli emergency services.
Amid the escalating conflict, Lebanese officials said the country’s government has formally banned Hezbollah’s military activity, declaring the state alone holds authority over decisions of war and peace. However, it remains unclear what concrete steps Lebanon’s military will take to enforce the decision.
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