Israeli forces cross Litani River as Netanyahu escalates strikes into Beirut and Bekaa Valley
Story Timeline
3 months · 11 summary articles
Israeli forces have crossed the Litani River in southern Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in the country’s ground offensive as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms strikes reaching Beirut and the Bekaa Valley. The advance, announced on Friday, comes as Israeli airstrikes hit residential areas in Ain Qana, killing at least five people, and follows weeks of intensifying clashes with Hezbollah.
Netanyahu declared the crossing a strategic shift, with Israeli troops now operating north of the Litani—a river long considered an informal boundary for Israeli military presence in Lebanon. The move coincides with U.S.-brokered security talks in Washington between Israeli and Lebanese defense officials, aimed at de-escalating tensions and disarming Hezbollah. However, the Israeli leader’s remarks suggest a widening campaign: "We are striking them from all directions, and we will handle the rest," he said, hinting at further territorial expansion.
Israeli airstrikes have targeted not only military positions but also cultural and religious sites, drawing condemnation from NGOs like Green Southerners, which accuses the military of deliberately destroying Lebanon’s heritage. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has simultaneously signaled plans to expand Israel’s control over Gaza, where the military already occupies 60% of the territory. In a private event, he revealed directives to increase that figure to 70%, with audience members urging a full takeover.
The offensive unfolds against a backdrop of regional instability, with Israel’s allies—including the U.S. and UAE—conducting parallel strikes on Iranian targets, further complicating diplomatic efforts. As Lebanese civilians flee northern villages, the Pentagon-mediated talks remain the sole high-level attempt to prevent a full-scale war.
Follow us for live European news
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
1 further source not geolocated
Articles
Netanyahu: Israel har gått över floden Litani Israels premiärminister Benjamin Netanyahu säger att israelisk militär har gått över floden Litani, som tidigare varit den informella gräns i södra Libanon för israelisk närvaro. Offensiven sker samtidigt som samtal förs mellan Libanon och Israel i USA på fredagen.
dagens nyheter · 2 months ago
Netanyahu confirms IDF soldiers crossed Litani River, air force operating in Beirut, Bekaa Valley
news.yahoo.com · 2 months ago
Israeli fighter jets strike village in south Lebanon Video shows the moment Israeli fighter jets struck a residential building in Ain Qana village in southern Lebanon.
aljazeera · 2 months ago
Israeli forces cross key Lebanon river in expanded ground offensive Israeli forces have advanced to positions north of Lebanons Litani River, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, as Israel escalates attacks against Hezbollah militants after warning thousands more Lebanese to flee their villages. The Israeli advance came as the US military hosted Israeli and Lebanese defence representatives in Washington on Friday to pursue a US-brokered plan to forge peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah.
france24 · 2 months ago
#BREAKING 🇮🇱❌🇵🇸 - During a conference in the Ein Prat Leadership Academy in Israel yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his directive is to increase the occupation of Gaza onto 70 of Its territory, from the current 60. Following a comment by an audience member, Netanyahu expressed the will to steadily increase the occupation up to 100 of Gaza. 📝 Transcript [click to expand]: Netanyahu: So, we are in a process where our power, we can leverage our power in several directions. If there is a need to crush Hezbollah. We are currently striking Hamas, yes. We are now at 60 of the territory of the Strip. You know, we were at 50. We moved to 60. My directive is to move to..." The audience then calls out: "100! 100!" He chuckles and responds: "Go in order. First of all, 70. Lets start with that. We are striking them from all directions, and we will handle the rest."
telegram bot · 2 months ago
Benjamin Netanjahu potvrdil postup izraelských síl za rieku Lítání Izraelská armáda po týždňoch bojov prekročila rieku Lítání a postupuje hlbšie do Libanonu. Netanjahu hlási údery až v Bejrúte a údolí Bikáa.
aktuality.sk · 2 months ago
Izraelské jednotky prekročili rieku Lítání v južnom Libanone, uviedol Benjamin Netanjahu Izraelská armáda po týždňoch bojov prekročila rieku Lítání a postupuje hlbšie do Libanonu. Netanjahu hlási údery až v Bejrúte a údolí Bikáa.
aktuality.sk · 2 months ago