Israeli forces cross Litani River, reaching outskirts of Nabatieh
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urges US to enforce ceasefire as displacement reaches 1.2 million amid ongoing Washington-facilitated peace talks.
Israeli military forces have crossed the Litani River in southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006, advancing to the outskirts of Nabatieh, one of the region’s largest cities. Senior Lebanese military sources confirmed the movement to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu on Saturday, describing the operation as an encirclement that has broken through the second and third lines of Hezbollah’s defence. The advance isolates the western Bekaa Valley from the south and places a key economic and cultural hub under immediate threat.
The incursion has prompted the Israeli army to issue immediate evacuation orders for at least 10 villages in southern Lebanon. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson, warned residents that they could be killed if they remained in their homes. The orders were issued despite ongoing diplomatic engagement, with officials from both nations having met in Washington to discuss a permanent end to the conflict.
The humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly, with approximately 1.2 million people displaced since the current phase of the conflict began in early March. This escalation followed the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which triggered renewed attacks by Hezbollah on Israel. Reporting from Tyre, Al Jazeera’s Obaida Hitto noted that displaced families are resorting to living in makeshift camps, public parks, and vehicles, with many having been continuously displaced since 2023.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam held talks on Saturday to address the security crisis, agreeing to intensify efforts to end the war. Aoun also spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressing the importance of Israel respecting the nominal ceasefire that has been in place since mid-April. The Lebanese government is currently engaged in difficult negotiations to disarm Hezbollah, a task that has proven extremely challenging amid the fighting.
Violence continues to mount, with at least 14 people killed in Israeli air raids in southern Lebanon on Friday. A new round of US-facilitated peace talks is expected to take place in Washington next week, as both sides seek to stabilise the region following the latest military developments.
