Israel extends control in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army deployed additional forces to southern Lebanon overnight, saying the move was intended to assume what a military spokesman on Tuesday described as defensive positions to protect Israeli civilians and strategic sites from potential attacks by Hezbollah.

‘We are only in a defensive posture in the border area to prevent attacks on civilians and strategically important points,’ Lt Col Nadav Shoshan told reporters during an online briefing.

In a statement, Defence Minister Yisrael Katz said he had authorised the army to advance and take control of further positions in Lebanon after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on Sunday evening in response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Israeli forces have occupied five positions in southern Lebanon since November 2024.

(reuters, max)