►►Israeli troops are « operating in southern Lebanon » on Tuesday as Israel continued its strikes against Lebanon’s Iran-aligned group Hezbollah, according to an Israeli military statement.
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT-The military ground advance across the border and operations in southern Lebanon, along with troop deployments at several points near the border, are part of an « enhanced forward defense posture » to beef up security for local residents in the border area, according to the Israeli military.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have authorized the military to « advance and secure additional strategic areas in Lebanon. » Katz added that the move is intended to allow the military to take over new positions within Lebanese territory for what he described as defending border towns in Israel.
An Israeli force consisting of a tank and three military bulldozers crossed at around 8:00 a.m. local time the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel, advancing approximately 1 kilometer into Lebanese territory, Lebanese security sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua.
The sources added that « the force moved toward the town of Tal al-Nahas, located between the village of Adaisseh and the town of Burj al-Muluk in the eastern sector of the southern border region, before carrying out bulldozing operations in the area. »
They noted that « the Lebanese army is monitoring the movement of the Israeli force. »
Katz noted Tuesday that the Israeli military will continue to « operate forcefully » against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, and warned the group will pay « a heavy price » for firing at Israel on Monday.
Overnight between Sunday and Monday, the Iran-backed group fired missiles and drones toward Israel as the joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran went on. Hezbollah stated its strikes were in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that at least 52 people were killed in the Israeli attacks against Hezbollah. No casualties caused by the Hezbollah firing were reported in Israel.
By Xinhua
