Israel Expands Military Operations in Lebanon, Targets Areas Beyond Hezbollah Control

Israel has intensified its military operations in Lebanon, targeting areas beyond Hezbollah's traditional strongholds. Recent airstrikes have hit locations such as the Mansourieh area, a predominantly Christian neighborhood north of Beirut, and the Jnah neighborhood in the capital's center.

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, including the Dahieh neighborhood, Israeli forces have continued their attacks. A building in Ghobeiry, near the airport road, was destroyed following an evacuation order.

The Lebanese health ministry reported that at least seven people were killed by Israeli strikes in the country's south, including a paramedic. This brings the total number of health workers killed since the start of the conflict to 53.

The Lebanese army has withdrawn from its last positions in the south, pulling out from villages such as Ain Ibel and Rmeish after an army checkpoint was hit, resulting in a soldier's death.

Despite evacuation orders, some residents have chosen to remain. In Rmeish, Father Najib Al Amil stated, "There is grass and soil. We rely on God and will stay in our village. We either all die together and lose our land or live and our villages will live with us."

Israel has announced plans to establish a security buffer zone up to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the border. Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated that Israel would maintain security control over this territory even after the current conflict ends.

The United Nations has criticized this plan, and hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from the south. Supply lines have been disrupted due to targeted attacks on bridges and infrastructure, rendering many villages uninhabitable.

Katz stated that more than 600,000 displaced Lebanese residents would be "completely prohibited" from returning to the area until the safety of northern Israel's residents is guaranteed. He also mentioned that all houses in villages near the border in Lebanon would be destroyed "according to the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza."

Since the beginning of the attacks, 1,268 people in Lebanon have been killed, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The United Nations reports that over one million people have been displaced.