The Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday it had deployed troops deeper into southern Lebanon, beyond the five posts it currently holds, “as part of an enhanced forward defense posture” amid attacks by the Hezbollah terror group. The expanded deployment came after Iran-backed Hezbollah began launching rockets and drones at northern Israel early Monday in response Israel’s killing of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader. Israel has retaliated with an intensive bombing campaign. The terror group fired more rockets and drones overnight and Tuesday morning.
“To prevent the possibility of direct fire at Israeli communities, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorized the IDF to advance and hold additional dominant terrain in Lebanon and defend the border communities from there,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. “The IDF continues to operate forcefully against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The terrorist organization is paying and will pay a heavy price for firing at Israel,” he added. Soldiers of the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division were “positioned at several points near the border area as part of an enhanced forward defense posture,” the army said.
The army said it was “working to create an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel.” “Northern Command has moved forward, taken control of the dominating terrain, and is creating a buffer, as we promised, between our residents and any threat,” IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said at a press conference. (Read More)
