Israeli Soldiers Advance Beyond Litani River Toward Nabatieh, Lebanon

Israel’s military advanced beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006 and appeared poised to encircle Nabatieh, a city described as key to southern Lebanon’s economy and a cultural hub.

“Israel’s military has advanced beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006 and appear poised to encircle the major city of Nabatieh”

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto, reporting from Tyre, said Israel was expanding its air campaign and “encircling Nabatieh in preparation for a potential assault on the city.”

Al Jazeera

Lebanon’s military said that “two soldiers were seriously wounded as a result of being targeted inside a vehicle by a hostile Israeli drone” near Nabatieh, while Lebanon’s National News Agency reported at least one paramedic killed and four others injured in an Israeli drone attack on Jebchit.

The same Al Jazeera report said the evacuation order came the day after officials from Israel and Lebanon met in Washington to discuss a permanent end to the war, which began in early March when Iran-backed Hezbollah began attacking Israel following the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Israel issued evacuation orders for at least 10 villages in southern Lebanon as it expanded its invasion, with the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee warning residents they could be killed if they remained.

Al Jazeera’s Hitto said people fleeing their homes have few options, adding that “more than 20 percent of the population – about 1.2 million people – displaced by fighting.”

DW

DW quoted Kelly Petillo saying, “Lebanon is in a state of panic,” and also reported that Lebanon’s Health Ministry put the death toll at more than 3,213 people with more than 1 million displaced after nearly three months of Israeli strikes.

DW also carried a warning from David Wood, a Beirut-based senior analyst for Lebanon at the International Crisis Group, saying, “If the situation continues along this path, it could have disastrous consequences for Lebanon.”

DW said the most recent US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that took effect on April 17, 2026, was extended by 45 days on May 15, 2026, but described it as fragile with almost daily attacks by Israel and Hezbollah.

“The ceasefire between Israel and Hizballah is, in fact, firing with no cessation”

El Mundo

El Mundo framed the ceasefire as “firing with no cessation,” and said the Israeli army had taken control of an area beyond the Litani River while continuing air strikes.

El Mundo reported that early on the day it was awaiting a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump on a deal with Iran, it received “bursts of projectiles fired by Hizballah from Lebanon,” with most intercepted by the Iron Dome system and one hitting the center of Kiryat Shmona causing property damage but no casualties.

DW said Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended holding the next round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, saying that a permanent peace and his demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon was non-negotiable, while Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem warned Beirut that his group would confront any government attempt to shut down the Hezbollah-linked Al-Qard Al-Hassan financial institution.