The IDF has begun pushing deeper into southern Lebanon in response to rocket attacks launched by Hezbollah on northern Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu authorised the operation on Tuesday morning, with the army stating that it was intended to protect against “direct fire” on the Jewish state.
Troops from the 91st Galilee Regional Division have been stationed “near the border area” in what the IDF called an “enhanced forward defence posture”.
A spokesperson added that the units were “working to create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel”.
"The IDF is conducting targeted strikes against Hezbollah terror infrastructure in order to remove threats and prevent infiltration attempts into Israeli territory,” they went on.
The IDF has maintained positions in southern Lebanon since October 2024, when an initial invasion was launched to try to dislodge Hezbollah from the border regions.
A US-brokered ceasefire the following month required troops to withdraw by the end of January 2025, with the Lebanese Army expected to deploy to replace Israeli soldiers in former Hezbollah strongholds.
However, Jerusalem repeatedly delayed the withdrawal, arguing that Beirut was not deploying its forces quickly enough and had failed to disarm Hezbollah as stipulated in the ceasefire, leaving open the possibility that the terror group could retake lost territory.
The renewed push into Lebanon comes after Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks in retaliation for Operation Roaring Lion, which saw Israel and the US launch strikes on Iran.
The Islamic Republic has funded Hezbollah to the tune of millions of dollars and given its personnel supplies, weapons, and refuge as part of Tehran’s network of terror proxies in the region.
In a statement, Defence Minister Israel Katz said: “Prime Minister Netanyahu and I have authorised the IDF to advance and take control of additional commanding areas in Lebanon in order to prevent fire against Israeli border communities.
"The IDF continues to operate forcefully against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The terrorist organisation is paying and will continue to pay a price for its fire toward Israel.
"To prevent the possibility of direct fire on Israeli communities, Prime Minister Netanyahu and I have authorised the IDF to advance and take control of additional commanding areas in Lebanon and to defend the border communities from there.
"We promised security for the Galilee communities, and that is what we will deliver.”
However, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has condemned Israel’s continued operations in his country.
Speaking before the expanded IDF operation was authorised, he commented on Israeli strikes against Hezbollah, some of which hit Beirut, saying: “The Lebanese state has repeatedly warned of the consequences of regional escalation on the country and has called for prudence and responsible action guided by the national interest.”
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