While visiting southern Lebanon, Israel’s military leader Eyal Zamir told soldiers to keep functioning on the “front lines,” as Israel continues exchanges of strikes with Hezbollah.
“At the front lines, we are not halting operations – you will persist in acting, eliminating direct and indirect threats from the northern communities, dismantling terrorist infrastructure, and locating and neutralizing terrorists,” he stated.
Zamir stated that the military will, for the time being, not extend past what Israel refers to as the “Forward Defense Line” – an area in southern Lebanon occupied by Israel. However, he emphasized that dangers to Israeli forces, even outside the purported Forward Defense Line and the Litani River, would be eradicated.
During a previous ceasefire, the Litani River, located only a few kilometers from Israel’s northern border, was meant to serve as a boundary line—beyond which Hezbollah would pull back its fighters, thus establishing a de-facto buffer zone with Israel.
An Israeli military official informed Xenix News last month that the military is now occupying areas as far as 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) inside Lebanon. Certain government officials have expressed their desire to extend their reach further, announcing intentions to assert control over land extending to the Litani River.
Israel has restated that its forces will stay in southern Lebanon to address threats to its soldiers and civilians in northern Israel.
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