Israel is expanding its military presence in southern Lebanon after an increase in cross-border rocket attacks by Hezbollah.
The Israel Defense Forces have moved to more than a dozen locations in Lebanon and are likely to deploy further, said an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military moves. The move is intended to “strengthen the forward defensive position” against Hezbollah, an Iranian ally, according to an IDF statement on Monday.
It is the latest escalation on what is now a major front in the Middle East war, and another sign that Israel’s operations in Lebanon could outlast its fighting with Iran.
Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes that started the war more than two weeks ago. Subsequent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed 850 people and displaced hundreds of thousands, according to the Lebanese government. Parts of Beirut were razed to the ground.
According to Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesman, Hezbollah attacks have intensified recently, with the group launching around a hundred rockets and drones at Israel every day since the end of last week. About a third of Israelis live within gun range.
So far, Hezbollah attacks have killed two IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon.
Israel previously ordered the evacuation of all civilians south of the Litani River, indicating that it aimed to occupy the border area comprising about 10% of all Lebanese territory.
The IDF says it needs a physical presence in Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from resuming similar cruise missile attacks that have plagued towns in northern Israel during fighting in the Gaza war.
Shoshani said hundreds of Hezbollah fighters were heading south from Litani to engage IDF troops or carry out cross-border attacks.
Asked whether Israeli positions in Lebanon would remain after the perceived threat was resolved, Shoshani said, “TBD.”
With help from Dan Khraich.
This article was generated from an automated news agency source without text modification.
