Israel has conducted strikes inside Lebanon in an effort to force the Hezibolla to leave the border area.
Israel has been pushing for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River, which lies about 30km (20 miles) north of the border.
Since Hamas attacked Israel’s south on October 7, triggering the ongoing war in Gaza, Hezbollah forces have fired on Israeli positions along the country’s northern border as well, with exchanges of fire continuing daily at a low boil.
Residents of the Sharon region in the North have reported the sound of “drilling” beneath them at night, prompting worries that Hezbollah may be burrowing tunnels underground, as Hamas did in the South.
Israeli air attack on a south Lebanon border town has killed three people.
“Enemy warplanes raided, before midnight (22:00 GMT), a house … in the centre of the town of Bint Jbeil”, about 2km (1.2 miles) from the border, killing the three and injuring another family member, NNA said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel, Eli Cohen led foreign ambassadors toured Israel’s northern border on Wednesday, telling the diplomats that unless Hezbollah withdraws its forces north of the Litani River, in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Israel will be forced to remove Hezbollah from the border by force.
Eli Cohen with foreign diplomats on a tour of Israel’s border with Lebanon, December 2023.
The envoys were briefed by security and civilian officials about Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel since October 7 and the impact this security situation has had on the residents of Israel’s north.
The tour was part of a sustained campaign by the foreign ministry to put pressure on the international community to implement Resolution 1701. Among other efforts, France and Israel have, in recent weeks, established a working group to this end.
