War in the Middle East: Israel announces expanding its operations in Lebanon "to other areas"

The Israeli army announced, Sunday May 31, a new extension of its ground operation in Lebanon. L’armée israélienne a “extended its operations against Hezbollah targets north of the river [Litani]. The operation is being extended to other areas,” she wrote on Sunday on the social network X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who considers much of southern Lebanon a “combat zone”, announced Friday that its troops had crossed the Litani River, located about thirty kilometers north of the border.

The army said it launched “a few days ago” an offensive in the region of the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki, in southern Lebanon, (…) “with the aim of eliminating direct threats to the localities of northern Galilee and Metula [en Israël]and as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen operational control in southern Lebanon.”

“A significant number of Israeli army troops launched offensive operations aimed at expanding the forward defense line,” she added. In a televised speech, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam judged on Saturday that thea “policy of scorched earth and collective punishment” led by the neighboring country “will not bring him[it] neither to security nor to stability”.

However, he defended the continuation of negotiations with Israel, which according to him constitute “the least expensive way” for Lebanon. A new session of talks between representatives of the two countries is scheduled for June 2 and 3 in Washington. In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the Prime Minister denounced Saturday “Israel’s reprehensible practices”, “extension” of his attacks as well as the “continued bombing and bulldozing of homes and historic sites.”

Since the start of hostilities, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed 3,371 people and displaced more than a million people, according to the Lebanese authorities.