The extended operation began days after Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had been ordered to expand its campaign. "Hundreds of thousands of Shi'ite residents of southern Lebanon who have evacuated or are evacuating their homes in southern Lebanon and Beirut will not return to areas south of the Litani line until the safety of northern residents is ensured," he said in a statement. Israeli troops battled Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon throughout the day on Monday, and advanced towards Bint Jbeil, a Lebanese village and Hezbollah stronghold located about 4 km from the border with Israel, the sources said. Under the November 2024 ceasefire, Hezbollah was to pull back from southern Lebanon as the Lebanese military took over. Israel said Lebanon never upheld its part of the deal, continuing near-daily air strikes against what it said were Hezbollah positions and weapons.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 16, 2026 20:06 UTC