Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz announced that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have authorised the IDF "to advance and seize additional controlled territories in Lebanon in order to prevent firing on Israeli border communities," military feeds  

The authorisation comes after the IDF initiated a ground incursion into Lebanon a few minutes earlier, which the IDF described as creating "an additional layer of security for residents of northern Israel."

"The IDF continues to operate with force against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The terrorist organisation is paying and will pay a heavy price for the firing toward Israel," Katz wrote in a press statement shared on X. 

"To prevent the possibility of direct-aimed firing on the Israeli settlements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have approved for the IDF to advance and seize additional controlling areas in Lebanon and to defend the border settlements from there," Katz continued.

“We promised security for the Galilee settlements, and so it will be done.”

Hezbollah responded to Israel's offensive campaign, announcing in a press statement that: “targeting a military barracks in the usurping entity is an act of defence and a legitimate right.”

The expansion of Israeli operations comes as exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah intensified on March 3, with sirens sounding across northern Israel due to suspected missile and drone strikes from Lebanese territory. 

Photographs circulating on social media show IDF strikes in the vicinity of the southern Lebanese villages of Al-Khiyam and Shor. 

Meanwhile, Al-Akhbar reported that the Lebanese army is evacuating its advanced positions in the Kfarchouba hills, transferring personnel to the Kfarhamam centre amid the intensifying hostilities.

A video has since been released showing the evacuation by the Lebanese Armed Forces.

 

Story updated at 10:47 am.