Hezbollah clashes with Israeli soldiers in south Lebanon
Israel's military clashed with Hezbollah Tuesday along a strategic river in Lebanon as Israeli troops tried to push farther north, just three days before Lebanese and Israeli military delegations are set to meet for direct talks in Washington.
A previously reached ceasefire appeared more nominal by the day, complicating efforts at a broader peace in the Iran war, as Tehran wants an end to the fighting to include Lebanon.
The Litani River has been a de facto boundary in Lebanon, with large areas to the south under Israeli military control despite the Washington-brokered ceasefire in place for over a month.
Israel intensified strikes in the Nabatieh district, just north of the river. On Tuesday it warned residents of the city of Nabatieh to leave.
Hezbollah meanwhile said it launched several rocket, artillery and exploding drone attacks on Israeli troops and vehicles mobilizing along the river toward the Nabatieh villages of Yohmor al-Shaqif and Zawtar al-Sharqieh.
Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to escalate its offensive in an effort to "crush" Hezbollah, the group said its fighters targeted Israeli troops and equipment in Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Khiam, Odaisseh, Ras al-Naqoura, Jal al-Allam, Hadb al-Bustan, avivim, Ramim, Misgav Am, and Shomera in south Lebanon and north Israel.
The group later said its fighters were engaged in direct clashes with an Israeli force trying to advance into Zawtar al-Sharqiya, amid heavy Israeli strikes and shelling.
Hezbollah said it targeted the force with shells, rockets, and attack drones, and that clashes were ongoing.
Source: Naharnet, Associated Press
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