Israel announces the crossing of the Litani and targets a Hezbollah leader in Beirut

The Israeli army revealed that it carried out an airstrike targeting a high-ranking military official in Hezbollah in the Shuweifat area south of the capital Beirut, as part of a continuous military escalation despite the US restrictions imposed since the ceasefire agreement last April. Israeli Army Radio reported that the target was the official of the missile system in the party's Imam Hussein Division. In an important military development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu crossed the Litani River, noting that his country “is striking very strong blows in Lebanon and is working to find a solution to Hezbollah's threats.” This announcement represents a qualitative development in Israeli military operations inside Lebanese territory. South Lebanon witnessed a bloody wave of violence that left 15 people dead, including children, according to Lebanese medical sources, as Israeli raids affected several areas in the districts of Tyre, Nabatieh, Marjayoun and Saida. A tragic incident, 6 people, including children, were killed when a drone targeted a family trying to flee on Adlon Highway. Hezbollah responded by carrying out four attacks targeting Israeli military positions and vehicles in the occupied southern towns, stressing that they came in response to Israeli violations of the truce agreement. These attacks resulted in the killing of an Israeli soldier from the "Givati" Brigade and the injury of seven other soldiers, raising the death toll Since the ceasefire came into effect, 12 Israelis have been killed. In a remarkable escalation of controversy, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for widespread destruction of Beirut's urban structure, urging the “demolition of 100 buildings for every drone” targeting Israeli soldiers. These statements reflect the increasing state of escalation in the region amid mutual accusations about breaching the truce agreement.