The Israeli military clashed with Hezbollah along a strategic river in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to expand operations.
At least 31 people were killed in the latest attacks, including several children, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Israel said it struck more than 100 Hezbollah sites across the region and the eastern Bekaa Valley overnight, targeting storage facilities, command centers, and observation points.
The escalation leaves the US-brokered ceasefire, in place since mid-April, increasingly nominal. The Litani River has become a de facto boundary, with large areas to the south under Israeli control.
Speaking after meeting with his defense minister, Netanyahu said: "The IDF are operating with large forces on the ground and seizing strategic areas." One strike hit the eastern village of Mashghara, killing 12 people, including several members of the same family.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government hopes direct talks with Israel, which Hezbollah opposes, will lead to a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal. Israel says it will not withdraw until Hezbollah no longer threatens its northern towns.
Over 1 million people in Lebanon have been displaced since the war began on March 2. At least 3,213 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, with over 9,700 wounded, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.