Israeli Forces Cross Litani River, Kill 5 in Lebanon Strikes as Pentagon Talks Loom
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 29
Israeli Forces Cross Litani River, Kill 5 in Lebanon Strikes as Pentagon Talks Loom
7 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 29
Five people were killed in Israeli strikes on Abbasiyeh and Deir Qanoun al-Nahr on Friday as Benjamin Netanyahu said troops had crossed the Litani River in an expanded ground offensive.
Seven more southern towns received Israeli evacuation warnings, including two about 40 km north of the border, while Netanyahu said operations were also underway in Beirut and the Bekaa Valley against Hezbollah.
At the Pentagon, Lebanon's six-officer delegation plans to demand a halt to attacks despite a ceasefire that began on April 17 and was extended 45 days on May 17 after US-mediated talks.
UNICEF said 15 children were killed and 62 injured in the past seven days in Lebanon—an average of 11 child casualties every 24 hours, mostly from air strikes in the south.
Hundreds of thousands have been displaced since March 2, about 40 southern hospitals are closed, and aid groups warn worsening security could force them to pull back from parts of southern Lebanon.
As Israel defies ceasefire terms and faces UN censure, is the framework of international law collapsing in the region?
Is Israel's push to the Litani River a security tactic or the permanent redrawing of Middle Eastern borders?
In late May 2026, Israel escalated its military operations by launching an expanded offensive into southern Lebanon, following a period of heightened tensions and despite an earlier ceasefire. This intensified campaign led to widespread and intense strikes, with over 120 attacks hitting Lebanon’s south and east in a single day, and even targeting Beirut. The offensive resulted in more than 3,200 fatalities in Lebanon, while 23 Israeli soldiers and four civilians were also killed. These actions marked a significant escalation in the conflict, highlighting the severe human cost and the broadening scope of military operations.