Israeli forces have advanced north of the Litani river, as their offensive against Hezbollah continues.
A general warning was issued for thousands of Lebanese civilians to leave their homes on Friday.
The offensive came as Israeli and Lebanese military delegates met in Washington to resume peace talks aimed at bringing the war to an end.
A ceasefire backed by the US was declared on 16 April, but it has failed to bring an end to cross-border fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli warplanes have flown regular sorties against targets in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah have fired rockets and drones into Israel.
The ceasefire was extended on 15 May for 45 days.
The area south of the Litani river was established as a buffer zone between Hezbollah and Israel, but now Israeli forces have moved beyond the river.
“Our forces have crossed the Litani and advanced to controlling positions,” Netanyahu said in remarks to military personnel.
“We are operating in Beirut, in the Bekaa (Valley), across the entire width of the front, and are dealing Hezbollah a crushing blow.”
More than a million Lebanese have now been displaced by the resumption of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, and over 3,200 killed.
After the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on 28 February, Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in support of Iran.
In Singapore today, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the US would restart strikes against Iran if a deal cannot be reached, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
“Our ability to recommence if necessary… we are more than capable,” Hegseth said in Singapore, where he is addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s most important forum for regional defense.
“Our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe, so we’re in a very good place.”
Secretary Hegseth went on to emphasize “We can do two things at one time.”
“We’re super-charging our defence industrial base so that we’re building 2X, 3X, 4X the munitions very soon to ensure that all of our (operations) plans are properly funded throughout the world,” he said, reassuring US allies that the US has not turned its back on the Asia-Pacific region.
He added that President Trump is “patient” and wants a “great deal” to ensure Iran does not get nuclear weapons.
In a post on Truth Social yesterday, President Trump revealed details of a possible deal to end the war with Iran, and said the Strait of Hormuz must be opened immediately, without tolls, and Iran will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
So far, Iran has not responded to President Trump’s statements. A few hours earlier, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said “no action will be taken before the other side acts.”
“We gain concessions not through dialogue, but through missiles; in negotiations, we merely make them understand this,” he wrote on X.
“The winner of any agreement is the one who, from the day after it, is better prepared for war.”
One Response
Eventually the end will come for all those who live for money and power. Some black people are yearning for reparations. Is that the same as DC darlings suing each other for millions? When people wake up and realize they have always been the “suckered herd” they won’t stay silent but they might as well stand in line for the reparation checks, the treasury has already been pilfered by the best of them. Who is in charge of all the fraud money being discovered? Has Trump invented another reason to take the windfall and ignore the American people? WHAT? Does he intend on buying Greenland with the cash and let the prisoners and slaves to this system die hard? There will be a price to pay after the smoke clears. There isn’t a Jew or a Trump family member that won’t be ravaged one way or another. Hated all over this planet and somewhere Satan smiles, knowing they would sell their God given souls for cash.