IDF Expands Ground Operations Beyond ‘Yellow Line’ in Lebanon

“We are not easing off the gas. On the contrary, I have instructed to press harder,” Netanyahu said.

By United with Israel Staff

IDF troops have begun operating in areas beyond the so-called “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, marking a significant expansion of Israel’s ground activity along the northern front. The Israeli military has not publicly detailed the scope of the operations, though publication of the development was cleared by military censors.

Additional reports from Hezbollah’s Al-Manar channel claimed that Israeli forces advanced in the Wadi al-Litani area toward the outskirts of the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiya.

The developments come as tensions along Israel’s northern border continue to rise sharply, with the IDF intensifying both air and ground operations against Hezbollah targets.

Overnight, Israeli forces carried out a broad wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, targeting more than 100 Hezbollah sites. The strikes hit weapons depots, command centers, observation posts, and other infrastructure used to plan and carry out attacks against Israeli forces and civilians.

Drone alerts continued into Tuesday morning, underscoring the sustained threat from Hezbollah despite ongoing Israeli operations.

At the same time, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents in parts of southern Lebanon, including the city of Nabatieh, urging civilians to leave areas near Hezbollah positions ahead of further strikes.

The warning stated that the military would act forcefully against terrorist infrastructure and advised residents to move immediately to safer areas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled a more aggressive phase of the campaign, declaring that Israel is “at war with Hezbollah” and emphasizing that operations are set to intensify.

“We are not easing off the gas. On the contrary, I have instructed to press harder,” Netanyahu said. “We will increase the blows and increase the intensity. We will hit them hard.”

He also acknowledged ongoing Hezbollah drone attacks, including explosive UAVs, but said Israel is working to counter the threat.

“They are firing drones at us. We have a special team working on this, and we will solve that as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Home Front Command tightened civilian restrictions in several northern areas, reducing permitted gathering sizes and maintaining partial activity levels in frontline communities.

Local officials warned that the situation could worsen in the immediate term, with military briefings indicating that the conflict is “escalating day by day” and could intensify further in the coming days.

The combination of expanded ground operations beyond the yellow line, intensified airstrikes, evacuation warnings inside Lebanon, continued Hezbollah attacks, and tighter civilian restrictions points to a rapidly developing situation, raising the possibility that fighting along the northern front could soon broaden into a more sustained and intense phase.