According to reports from the Jerusalem Post and others on May 31, Israeli ground troops crossed the Litani River and entered the Beaufort ridge and the Wadi al-Saluki area, securing the region.
The Israeli military stated that the operation began a few days prior, aiming to eliminate the threat posed by Hezbollah to residents in northern Israel.
Before the ground troops advanced, the Israeli Air Force conducted extensive airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the area. Artillery and tank fire also supported the ground forces.
Additionally, the Israeli military is conducting operations near Nabatiyeh, a major Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon, and is prepared to expand its operations in that area.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that it has been 44 years since the Battle of Beaufort during the First Lebanon War, and that Israeli forces have once again raised the Israeli flag and the Golani Brigade banner.
He emphasized that the operation is not yet complete, asserting, "The Israeli military is determined to crush Hezbollah's power and complete its mission."
The entry of Israeli forces into the Beaufort ridge marks the first time since the withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000 that they have regained control of the area. Beaufort is considered a strategic high ground in southern Lebanon. During the First Lebanon War in 1982, Israeli Golani reconnaissance units captured this outpost from armed groups that were using it to launch rockets toward the Galilee region.
Israeli forces maintained control of the area until their withdrawal from southern Lebanon under then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak's orders in May 2000.
Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's directive to intensify operations against Hezbollah, Israeli forces have expanded their operations beyond the existing control line known as the "Yellow Line," which is about 10 kilometers from the border. On May 29, they crossed the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers north of the "Blue Line," which effectively serves as the border between Israel and Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Iran is reportedly negotiating a ceasefire in Lebanon, including conditions involving Hezbollah, as it seeks to finalize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for peace. This development suggests that the expansion of Israeli ground operations in Lebanon could influence U.S.-Iran negotiations for a ceasefire.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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