Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that he has ordered the Israel Defense Forces to take control of additional positions in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched strikes against Israel. Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned militant group based in Lebanon, initiated attacks as Israel and the United States intensified military operations against Iran.

In response, Israeli forces deployed reinforcements overnight to establish what officials described as “defensive positions” aimed at protecting Israeli civilians and key strategic sites from further aggression. Military sources said the expanded deployment is focused on preventing infiltration attempts and deterring additional rocket or drone launches from Lebanese territory.

At the same time, the Israeli Air Force carried out precision strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure, targeting weapons storage facilities, launch sites, and operational command centers. The operations followed an intense night of airstrikes across southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, areas known to host Hezbollah strongholds.

Israeli officials maintain that the actions are defensive in nature and intended to secure the northern frontier amid escalating regional tensions linked to the broader confrontation with Iran. Security has been heightened across northern Israel as authorities brace for the possibility of further cross-border attacks.