According to the report, it took Israeli forces around three months to occupy eight villages along this front, including Odeisseh, Kfarkila, and Rab El Thalathine villages, which it says had already been largely destroyed and emptied.
Al Manar says resistance fighters inflicted heavy losses despite Israel deploying division-sized forces, including the Golani Brigade.
It adds that Israeli forces relied on extensive bombardment and a scorched-earth campaign to advance, destroying built-up areas overlooking the Litani River while avoiding direct engagements whenever possible.
🗺️ Visual from AP
https://bird.makeup/users/dropsitenews/statuses/2060953567259689436
💢 An IDF soldier was killed and four others wounded and hospitalized in a Hezbollah FPV drone strike at approximately 10:30 p.m. Saturday on a Givati Brigade position in southern Lebanon, the military confirmed.
The announcement came as Israeli forces captured the strategic Crusader-built Beaufort Castle, with the IDF saying the operation is “expanding to additional areas at this time,” according to Times of Israel military correspondent Emanuel Fabian. He also reported:
🔸 Israel crossed the Litani River’s 90-degree bend near Metula and advanced toward the castle, which overlooks the Galilee Panhandle and the Nabatieh area
🔸 The IAF carried out “massive” strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure ahead of the ground advance, alongside artillery and tank shelling
🔸 The IDF claimed the Beaufort and Wadi Saluki area contains “significant” Hezbollah infrastructure established with Iranian assistance
🔸 The IDF said it is now “operating near Nabatieh” and “prepared to expand the offensive as required”
🎥 Beaufort Castle, known in Arabic as Qalaat al-Shaqif, is a 12th-century UNESCO-protected heritage site Israel occupied for 18 years before withdrawing from Lebanon in 2000. Video from Al Mayadeen.