IDF ground troops have crossed the Litani River, entering and securing the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki areas of southern Lebanon, the military announced on Sunday morning.
The operation began several days ago with the goal of eliminating the threat Hezbollah poses to the citizens of northern Israel, and is currently expanding to additional areas.
Ahead of the troops’ entry, the Israel Air Force conducted extensive support strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in the area.
Support fire for the ground troops also included artillery and tank fire.
Further, the IDF added that it is operating near Nabatieh, a significant Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon, and is prepared to expand its operations there as well.
During the First Lebanon War in 1982, the IDF’s Golani Reconnaissance Unit captured the outpost from terrorists who had been using the site to launch rockets toward the Galilee.
The IDF held the outpost until May 2000, when Israel withdrew its forces from southern Lebanon on the order of former prime minister Ehud Barak.
Israel’s withdrawal led to the collapse of the South Lebanon Army, creating a power vacuum in the region that Hezbollah took advantage of to rebuild its strength.