Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday said that over one million Lebanese supporters of Hezbollah have been evacuated from their residences as part of the ongoing conflict with the Lebanese terror group.
Earlier, the IDF announced that the 36th Division had penetrated deeper into southern Lebanon as part of the conflict with Hezbollah.
Already last week, three IDF divisions, namely the 91st, 210th, and 146th, had expanded Israel's security zone in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from even thinking about an invasion.
By Wednesday night last week, the IDF had announced that the 91st Division had expanded Israel's security zone in the eastern portion of southern Lebanon, that the 210th Division had expanded its presence in the Mount Dov area, and that the 146th Division had expanded its presence in the western portion of southern Lebanon.
The 36th Division, including the 7th Armored Brigade, has invaded the Rab al-Talteen area in an effort to further remove Hezbollah threats from the area, which could harm either the IDF troops in broader parts of southern Lebanon or harm the Israeli home front.
IDF launches heavy attacks on Hezbollah’s Dahiyeh stronghold
Since Hezbollah launched symbolic attacks on Israel on March 2, the IDF responded with a ferocious counterattack, with 700 strikes as of Monday, including several dozen massive attacks on Hezbollah's Dahiyeh stronghold in Beirut.
In turn, Hezbollah responded with much more extensive rocket and drone attacks on Israel's North, including Haifa, and activated anti-tank and mortar cells, which have killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded around 15 in southern Lebanon.
The latest deeper invasion move is still being presented as temporary, possibly only lasting a matter of days or a week or so. However, in October 2014, top IDF officials said the major invasion of Lebanon then would only last a couple of weeks, and it lasted nearly seven weeks, including staying in Lebanon during a transitional ceasefire phase for months beyond that.
IDF kills armed Hezbollah group in Christian area of south Lebanon
The IDF killed a group of armed Hezbollah terrorists entering a civilian, Christian area in southern Lebanon, the military said on Monday afternoon.
After noticing the terrorists entering the site, soldiers of the IDF's 300th Brigade, operating in the area under the command of the 146th Division, directed an IAF fighter jet to their location in order to strike the group.
Additionally, the IDF said it had destroyed dozens of Hezbollah’s rocket launchers located south of the Litani River, as well as intercepted dozens of drones launched at Israel by the terror organization over the past few days.