Israel broadens northern front operations to counter Hezbollah threat

TEL AVIV: Israel has announced a significant expansion of its military operations along the northern border in southern Lebanon in response to continued rocket fire from Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move aims to strengthen Israel’s security and prevent attacks on northern communities.

Speaking in a video statement from the Israeli Northern Command, Netanyahu said, “We eliminated thousands of Hezbollah fighters and neutralized much of their missile threat, but they still retain the capability to launch attacks. We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north.”

Last week, Israel had begun enlarging a buffer zone up to the Litani River, though details remain unclear on whether the latest expansion involves additional territory. Defence Minister Israel Katz noted that Israeli forces would control remaining strategic areas in the region to secure the border.

Hezbollah began firing rockets after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, leading to a surge in regional hostilities. Lebanese sources report more than 1,100 people, including civilians, have been killed in ongoing strikes, while Israel reports four of its soldiers have died in combat operations.

Netanyahu emphasised that the northern campaign is part of a broader, multi-front effort against Iran and its allied groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, aiming to curb Iran’s influence in the region and secure Israel’s borders.

Meanwhlile, a paramedic health worker of the World Health Organization was killed on Sunday in southern Lebanon due to Israel’s expanding military operations in the region.

Israel's expanding military operations in southern Lebanon have resulted in the death of yet another health worker today. A paramedic was killed in a strike on an ambulance in Bint Jbeil.

Additionally, a medical warehouse in the same city was destroyed in an attack.

Prior to… pic.twitter.com/C58rPp0K3a

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 29, 2026

The killing of the WHO member came after the Israeli forces struck an ambulance in Bint Jbeil, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in an X post.

The WHO DG added that a medical warehouse in the same city was also destroyed in the Israeli attack.

At least 51 Lebanese health workers killed different strikes being carried out by the Israel since March 2, including nine paramedics on Saturday, Tedros said.