Israel plans to push military presence 8 km inside Lebanon: Report

Israel plans to expand its military footprint up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) inside Lebanese territory, according to Israeli media reports Wednesday, signaling a significant deepening of its ground operation in southern Lebanon.

New military sites established

Channel 14 reported that the Israeli army has already begun establishing 18 new military sites inside Lebanon, with some located deep within Lebanese territory. The outlet said Israeli officials have decided to maintain "full control" of Lebanese territory up to the Litani River, Lebanon's main waterway, "and even beyond it in some areas." The decision includes "moving the Israeli army's operational defense line into Lebanese territory, at least 8 kilometers from the international border."

Mounting casualties

Israel has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive since Hezbollah's cross-border attack on March 2. Lebanese authorities report at least 1,072 people killed and 2,966 injured in Israeli attacks since the escalation began. The Litani River, which flows through the Bekaa Valley between Lebanon's mountain ranges, has long been considered a strategic line of control in UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Wider conflict

The expanded operation comes amid the broader US-Israeli offensive against Iran launched Feb. 28, which has killed more than 1,340 people including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Israel's push deeper into Lebanon marks a significant expansion of the conflict's ground component.