Hezbollah Ambush on Isreali Forces Kills Nearly 60 Soldiers

Hezbollah fighters ambushed Israeli forces during an operation to secure the Litani River banks, killing Sergeant Moshe Yitzhak Hakohen Katz.

The forces consisted of elite troops from the 890th Paratrooper Battalion and elements of the Yahalom engineering unit.

Al Jazeera

Heavy mortar and rocket fire forced the Israelis to abort the mission and withdraw under fire.

The Israeli army later reported the deaths of 59 soldiers across Lebanon and Gaza since the ground offensive began.

Initial reports on casualties varied widely.

Israeli media confirmed four dead from the Litani operation, later updated to 59 confirmed Israeli deaths across Lebanon and Gaza.

Euronews

Israel had no plans to advance deeper into Lebanon, defining a front line roughly 10 kilometers from the Litani River.

Threats remained as Iranian missile programs and Hezbollah's capabilities endured.

Katz announced plans to establish a security zone extending from the border to the Litani River.

“Katz said that hundreds of thousands of Lebanese displaced people will be permanently barred from returning to their homes until the security of northern Israel is guaranteed, adding that all houses in villages bordering the border in Lebanon will be demolished, following the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza”

Euronews

He demanded that all Lebanese south of the Litani evacuate within a week.

Between 400,000 to 600,000 residents will be unable to return to their homes until northern Israel is secured.

The Israeli army denied any intention to return to a security belt in southern Lebanon.