Israeli forces conducted a multi-day raid in the area surrounding the Litani River in southern Lebanon, the Israeli military confirmed on Tuesday. This operation comes amid ongoing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, despite a ceasefire that has been in place since mid-April.

The Israeli military statement indicated that troops operated south of the so-called “yellow line,” a security zone roughly 10 kilometers north of the Israel-Lebanon border, where Israeli forces maintain a presence. While Israeli media reports claimed that soldiers advanced beyond the Litani River and reached the outskirts of Zawtar Al Sharqiyah, military officials refrained from confirming whether their forces had crossed the river but released images showing soldiers and tanks near a river crossing.

The recent hostilities have contributed to a significant death toll in Lebanon since the ceasefire took effect on April 17. Lebanon’s Health Minister, Rakan Nassereddine, reported that Israeli strikes have resulted in at least 380 fatalities and more than 1,100 injuries during the ceasefire period. The total number of casualties since the conflict's outbreak on March 2 now stands at 2,882 deaths, including 279 women and 200 children. Additionally, the ministry noted that 39 women and 22 children were among the casualties recorded after the truce began.

Lebanon's civil defense agency reported that two of its personnel were killed on Tuesday by an Israeli airstrike while they were responding to previous bombings in the southern city of Nabatieh. The agency stated the strike targeted rescue workers who were carrying out their duties with no involvement in hostilities. Minister Nassereddine emphasized that many of those killed and wounded include emergency and healthcare workers, challenging Israeli claims that ambulances and medical teams were allegedly used for military purposes. He added that sixteen hospitals have suffered damage since the fighting started.

Under the terms of the ceasefire brokered by the United States, Israel reserves the right to act against threats it perceives as “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks,” a provision Israel has cited to justify continued military actions despite the truce.

Separately, Hezbollah and Lebanese officials expressed their condemnation of the strikes. A statement from Hezbollah’s Qassem condemned ongoing Israeli and American actions, calling them aggression aimed at subjugating Lebanon. Qassem urged a halt to direct negotiations with Israel, describing them as unproductive and disadvantageous to Lebanon. He pledged continued resistance, affirming the commitment to defending the country irrespective of the duration or cost.

Hezbollah has indicated that its fighters are included in the official Lebanese casualty figures, which reflect the complex and intertwined nature of the ongoing conflict and its human toll.