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3. Israeli Ground Invasion Consolidates as Strikes Continue

Israeli rhetoric has intensified on the creation of a buffer zone, including the demolition of border villages, with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying Lebanese civilians won’t be able to return until northern Israel is secure. In recent days, Israeli forces have consolidated a number of axes in the fight, concentrated around the coast south of Tyre, the large southern city of Bint Jbeil, and the eastern hilltop village of Khiam.

Local media indicates that the Israeli ground operation has reached a depth of 14 kilometers in some areas, reaching as far as Bayada on the Mediteranian coastal route. In the eastern theater, Israeli forces have reached up to the Litani river in Taybeh and Qantara, through a corridor which offers the closest distance between the Golan heights and the river.

Meanwhile the Lebanese army withdrew from more border villages in southern Lebanon today, as southern mayors held a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, urging him to do more to protect them from the ongoing invasion.

Reuters reported that the Israeli military said four Israeli soldiers were killed and two wounded in southern Lebanon on March 31, and, on April 2, the Israeli army said two Nahal Brigade soldiers were wounded in a direct confrontation. 

Strikes on Lebanon

A round of heavy airstrikes in the Beirut area on April 1 killed at least 7 and wounder 26—in Khaldeh south of the city and Jnah in the southern suburbs—said the Lebanese Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians.

On April 1 and 2, airstrikes continued in south Lebanon with a strike on Ramadiyeh killing 4, according to the health ministry and strikes on Kfar Sir and Zibdin each killing 3 according to L’Orient Today. According to L’Orient, Israeli strikes hit 33 localities in southern lebanon on April 1 alone.

Strikes on Israel

The Israeli army said 150 projectiles were fired from Lebanon and 20 from Iran in the last 24 hours, a slight increase as the country enters the holiday of Passover this week.

According to them, a rocket struck Kiryat Shmona, injuring 2 people. Later, the Israeli army said about 5 rockets were fired toward the Krayot area on the outskirts of Haifa, with no injuries reported.

The strikes demonstrate that Hezbollah retains the capacity to fire large salvos into northern Israel, including as far as Haifa.