Already last week, three IDF divisions, Divisions 91, 210, and 146, 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 Division 91 had expanded Israel’s security zone in the eastern portion of southern Lebanon, that Division 210 had expanded its presence in the Mount Dov area, and that Division 146 had expanded its presence in the western portion of southern Lebanon.
Division 36, including Brigade 7, 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.
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 Dahiya 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.