IDF Expands Ground Operations in Southern Lebanon as Hezbollah Attacks Intensify

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Tuesday that it has pushed additional deeper into southern Lebanon, expanding its buffer zone along the northern border as Hezbollah continues launching rockets and drones into northern Israel.

According to the military, troops from the 36th Division began a new targeted ground operation aimed at widening what it described as a “forward defense area.” The move follows earlier operations by the 91st “Galilee” Division in the eastern sectors, while the 146th Division remains defensively positioned in the west.

Ahead of the ground advance, Israeli forces carried out extensive airstrikes and artillery shelling targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. In Beirut, Lebanese media reported multiple Israeli airstrikes in the Dahiyeh district, a known Hezbollah stronghold, after evacuation warnings were issued to civilians.

The escalation comes amid sustained attacks by the Iran-backed terror group. Sirens sounded across northern Israeli communities overnight and into Tuesday as rockets and drones were launched from Lebanon. While no injuries were reported Tuesday morning, six people were wounded in a rocket strike in Nahariya the previous evening.

The IDF said Hezbollah has fired roughly 100 rockets per day since early March, along with more than 100 drones, even as many launches originate from deeper Lebanese territory beyond the immediate border zone.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized that the broader campaign against Iran is directly impacting Hezbollah’s capabilities.

“Iran is the main arena. Weakening the regime weakens the entire radical axis, including Hezbollah,” Zamir said, noting that over 400 Hezbollah operatives, including senior commanders, have been killed since the latest escalation began.

Meanwhile, Lebanon is facing a growing humanitarian crisis, with authorities reporting over one million displaced civilians. Lebanese officials also said at least 886 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, including dozens of children.

Despite reports of potential diplomatic engagement between Israel and Lebanon, Israeli officials have denied any current plans for direct talks.

The IDF signaled it is preparing for a broader phase of operations, with officials indicating that additional forces may be deployed to further push Hezbollah away from Israel’s northern communities and dismantle its military infrastructure.

Prophetic Perspective

As conflict shakes the northern borders of Israel, the region once again becomes central in the unfolding tension between darkness and light. Yet even in the midst of war, Scripture reminds us that God’s purposes are advancing. The shaking of nations often precedes spiritual awakening, and the weakening of oppressive forces can open doors for truth to spread. In a region long dominated by conflict and control, there remains a growing hunger for freedom — both natural and spiritual — pointing toward the greater promise that the knowledge of the Lord will ultimately fill the earth.

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