Israel Intstofies Ground Offensive in Southern Lebanon Amid Rising Border Escalation

BEIRUT: Israel has expanded its ground offensive in southern Lebanon, stepping up military operations near the strategic border town of Bint Jbeil as tensions with Hezbollah continue to escalate ahead of rare diplomatic engagements in Washington.
According to international media reports, Israeli forces have surrounded Bint Jbeil and launched coordinated ground assaults targeting what the military described as Hezbollah infrastructure. The operation is being supported by sustained air strikes, with troops engaged in close-range combat.
The Israeli military claimed that more than 100 Hezbollah fighters were killed during the offensive, though the figures remain unverified by independent sources. No immediate details were released regarding Israeli casualties.
Hezbollah has not confirmed the reported losses but said it launched a retaliatory rocket barrage toward Israeli positions in Kfar Giladi, citing Israeli ceasefire violations and continued strikes on southern Lebanese villages.
Air raid sirens were triggered across northern Israel following the rocket fire, while Israeli defense systems reportedly intercepted a drone over the Galilee region after a prolonged tracking operation.
The latest developments have heightened fears of a broader escalation along the Israel–Lebanon frontier, particularly as indirect diplomatic efforts are reportedly being explored in Washington.