IDF deploys another division to south Lebanon as it expands buffer zone to push back Hezbollah

The Israeli military says it has pushed even more forces deeper into southern Lebanon as part of an expanded buffer zone after Hezbollah began attacking Israel earlier this month.

The 162nd Division began a raid several days ago in the western sector of southern Lebanon. The IDF says the “targeted ground operation against key targets” is aimed at expanding “the security zone.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz said this week that the IDF would control a “security zone” in southern Lebanon, up to the Litani River, until the threat of Hezbollah is removed.

Before the troops pushed into the area, the IDF says, it carried out massive airstrikes and artillery shelling to remove threats to the forces.

So far, the IDF reports that the division has killed some 20 Hezbollah operatives.

In addition to the 162nd, another four IDF divisions are deployed to southern Lebanon: the 146th is deployed defensively to the western sector; the 91st and 36th are carrying out raids in the eastern sector; and the 210th is stationed in the Mount Dov area.

The IDF has been preparing to deploy a sixth division, the 98th — an elite formation of paratroopers and commando units — in southern Lebanon, as part of its efforts to establish the new security zone and push away the threat of Hezbollah from the border.