Israel has sent additional troops into southern Lebanon, significantly expanding the scope of its ongoing ground offensive as tensions with Hezbollah continue to escalate.
According to the Israeli military, the 162nd Division has now joined two other divisions already operating in the region. The deployment aims to broaden a so-called “buffer zone” along the border to prevent cross-border rocket attacks.
Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the buffer zone is necessary to protect northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah’s missile strikes. The recent escalation follows intensified hostilities after the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike in late February, which triggered retaliatory rocket fire by Hezbollah.
Since early March, Israeli air and ground operations in Lebanon have intensified. The United Nations reports that more than 1.2 million people have been displaced, while Lebanon’s health ministry says over 1,100 people have been killed and more than 3,200 injured.
Several Western countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Canada, have warned that further expansion of the offensive could lead to a “catastrophic humanitarian crisis.” Despite this, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz বলেছেন that residents of southern Lebanon will not be allowed to return home until security in northern Israel is ensured.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has condemned the operation as a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and international law, stating that his government will raise the issue at the UN Security Council in discussions with Secretary-General António Guterres.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has accused Israel of extending patterns of destruction seen in Gaza into Lebanon, urging global leaders to intervene.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has vowed “unlimited resistance,” with the group claiming dozens of operations against Israeli forces in recent days. Israel, on the other hand, reports casualties from Hezbollah rocket fire, including a fatality in the coastal city of Nahariya.
The situation remains volatile, with fears growing that the conflict could widen into a broader regional war.
