Benjamin Netanyahu orders expansion of invasion into southern Lebanon in bid to end Hezbollah rocket barrage

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the IDF to further expand its operations in southern Lebanon as the conflict in the region continues to rage. Mr Netanyahu made the order during a video statement from Israeli Northern Command, in which he cited continued rocket fire by Hezbollah as the reason for the renewed military action. Although Israel said last week it was enlarging a "buffer zone" up to the Litani River, Mr Netanyahu was not clear about whether he was referring to that area or to the seizure of additional territory in the country. "I have now instructed to further expand the existing security zone in order to finally thwart the threat of invasion and to push the anti-tank missile fire away from our border," Mr Netanyahu said. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Iran-backed Hezbollah, which operates in the country, began firing rockets into Israel after the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on the last day of February. At time of writing, more than 400 fighters from Hezbollah have been killed. Israeli strikes and ground operations have killed more than 1,100 people ⁠in Lebanon, including children, women and medical personnel, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The Israeli military has said four of its soldiers have been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu said the decision aimed to strengthen Israel's security position along its northern frontier. "We eliminated thousands of Hezbollah terrorists, and above all, we eliminated the immense threat of 150,000 missiles and rockets that were intended to destroy the cities of Israel," he said. "However, Hezbollah still has a residual capability to launch rockets at us...we are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north." LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: EU offers Britain 'emergency brake' on new youth mobility scheme but continues to reject hard cap Israel blocks cardinal from entering Christianity's holiest site 'for first time in centuries' Iran spy ring 'generating propaganda' in London, Labour warned Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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