The IDF confirmed Tuesday that forces from the Golani Brigade’s combat team, under the command of Division 36, completed operational control of the Litani River area in southern Lebanon over the past week.
During the operation, Israeli forces cleared the area of Hezbollah terror infrastructure, locating hideouts, significant underground tunnels, weapons caches, and rocket launchers. The Israeli Air Force provided close support to ground forces and struck over 100 terror targets in the area.
1+Channel 14’s military correspondent Hillel Bitton-Rosen reported earlier that IDF engineering units carried out a series of operations in the Litani area in recent days as part of preparations for the next phase of fighting. These operations were designed to enable future crossings by armor and infantry forces in continued operational activity. During the operation, three intense firefights occurred with terrorists in close-quarters combat, in which dozens of terrorists were killed. Eight soldiers were wounded in varying degrees of severity in these incidents.
The Litani River’s importance is strategic—it serves as a significant geographic line viewed as an essential buffer zone against Hezbollah. Pushing terror forces north of the river is critical to reducing the threat of direct fire, preventing terrorists from approaching the border, and thwarting any attempt to establish positions that would enable future infiltration into northern Israeli communities.
1+Parallel to ground operations, the IDF has increased pressure on the local population cooperating with terror groups. The IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman issued an urgent evacuation warning last night to several villages and communities in the area, calling on residents to leave their homes immediately. The move comes following repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement by Hezbollah, forcing Israeli forces to act forcefully to remove the threat to the State of Israel.