From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
IDF troops reach key Litani River for first time since 2000 Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF’s 91st Division has reached the Litani River in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon, as well as the Wadi Saluki area, and the military says troops located dozens of Hezbollah weapons and sites in both areas.
It is the first time since 2000 — when Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon — that IDF troops have reached the Litani River.
In the Wadi Saluki area, troops of the Commando Brigade raided several Hezbollah sites. The IDF says the commandos located and seized hundreds of weapons, and found dozens of bunkers and dozens of primed rocket launchers.
At the Litani River, troops of the Alexandroni Brigade, 769th “Hiram” Regional Brigade, Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit, and the Israeli Air Force’s Shaldag unit raided numerous Hezbollah sites in the area.
The IDF says the troops battled Hezbollah gunmen in the Litani River area, and located and destroyed dozens of rocket launchers, hundreds of rockets, weapon depots, and other weapons hidden in the mountainside.
Wadi Saluki is located around 10 kilometers from Israel’s border, and the Litani River in the eastern sector is around four kilometers from the northern Israel town of Metula.
The chief of the IDF Northern Command, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, also visited the Litani River amid the operations.
The proposed truce deal that Israel is expected to agree to today, which would halt the fighting on the northern front, calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon, and Hezbollah would end its armed presence south of the Litani River.
