Israeli Advance Towards the Litani River and Netanyahu Calls for an Expansion of the Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon

SadaNews - The frontlines in southern Lebanon are witnessing rapid field developments, with Lebanese military sources announcing the advance of Israeli forces in several directions towards the Litani River amidst intense exchanges of attacks between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, alongside ongoing air raids on various areas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he has directed the expansion of the current security buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu added that Israel is determined to create a fundamental change in the situation on the northern front. A Lebanese military source told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces have advanced to the vicinity of the Litani River from the direction of the town of Qantara in the Al-Muhaysibat area, and have reached one of the branches of the river in the eastern sector. According to the same source, the advance has extended to the central sector, where the forces have reached the town of Rashaf and are now positioned between the towns of Sarbine and Bayt Liff. In the western sector, the military source announced that Israeli forces have entered the town of Al-Bayyadah and established positions within it, while executing a military encirclement of the town of Aitaroun, reaching the fringes of Wadi Al-Suluki, indicating an attempt to surround strategic positions in the border area. Field Confrontations In contrast, Hezbollah announced the execution of a series of attacks on Israeli forces, confirming the detonation of two explosive devices against an infiltrating force in the town of Ainata from the direction of Aitaroun, and targeting two Merkava tanks. They also reported additional strikes using guided missiles and drones targeting Israeli tanks in the town of Al-Bayyadah, confirming direct hits. On the Israeli side, the army announced that overnight it carried out attacks on Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut and other areas of Lebanon, noting the destruction of a rocket launch platform in the Beqaa region, as well as ammunition depots within the capital. In a related context, Channel 12 in Israel reported that air defenses are intercepting a drone launched from Lebanon towards the Upper Galilee. On the ground, Israeli aircraft continued to carry out raids on several southern areas, targeting the town of Haboush in one strike, and the city of Bint Jbeil in another, which also witnessed the death of a paramedic due to shelling targeting an ambulance, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Regionally, the British Ministry of Defence announced the downing of seven one-way attack drones overnight in the Middle East.