Netanyahu Orders Expansion of Military Operations in Lebanon Amid Rising Tensions
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has announced that he has instructed the Israeli military to expand the scope of its operations in Lebanon. He stated that this decision aims to deepen military actions and gain control over areas held by Hezbollah and is part of Israel’s broader strategy on multiple fronts.
Netanyahu claimed that the ‘Occupation of Al-Sheikh’ represents a new phase of Israel’s military strategy and emphasized that the country is acting simultaneously in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon, continuing to establish buffer zones. He further said that the ongoing operation will take time but, according to him, aims to provide complete security for residents of northern Israel.
In response, Lebanon’s Hezbollah has reported delivering heavy blows to Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. The group declared in a statement that, in retaliation to ceasefire violations and Israeli attacks on southern villages, its forces targeted a Merkava tank in the town of Al-Bayada with a guided missile.
According to the statement, Israeli military vehicle gatherings in the same area were also hit by a missile barrage last night and this morning. Hezbollah emphasized that these actions were taken in defense of Lebanon and its people.
Meanwhile, Israeli sources have reported that after missile launches from Lebanese territory, sirens sounded in the Haifa Bay area, Acre, and surrounding locations. Additionally, a drone approaching the Zarit area in Western Galilee triggered sirens in that region.
Hebrew media sources report that since this morning, more than 60 missiles have been fired in several waves from Lebanon toward various parts of northern Israel. The missiles reportedly targeted areas including Haifa, Acre, Kiryat, Nahariya, and the Finger of the Galilee.
The latest developments indicate that tensions along Israel’s northern borders have entered a new phase, and clashes between the two sides continue despite previous claims of a ceasefire.
