Israeli forces carried out a multi-day military operation along the Litani River in southern Lebanon amid ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah, the Israeli military announced on Tuesday. According to the statement, troops operated south of the so-called “yellow line,” an Israeli-declared security zone roughly 10 kilometers north of the Israel-Lebanon border where Israeli forces maintain a presence.

While Israeli media reported that the operation extended beyond the Litani River near the outskirts of the town of Zawtar Al Sharqiyah, the military declined to confirm whether troops crossed the river itself. However, published photographs showed soldiers on a bridge spanning a river and armored vehicles along the riverbank.

Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 17, following weeks of intense fighting. Lebanon’s Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said in a press conference that Israeli airstrikes have killed 380 people in Lebanon since the ceasefire began, with more than 1,100 injured. The total death toll from the conflict, which started on March 2, has reached 2,882, including 279 women and 200 children. An official from the health ministry noted the casualty figures include 39 women and 22 children since the truce was implemented.

Lebanon’s civil defense agency reported that two of its personnel were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday while conducting rescue operations in southern Lebanon. The strike targeted them while they were responding to an earlier attack in the city of Nabatieh. The civil defense agency emphasized that the casualties were among emergency responders carrying out humanitarian work and denied Israeli claims that the targeted vehicles contained armed militants.

The Washington-brokered ceasefire agreement allows Israel to undertake military actions against “planned, imminent or ongoing attacks,” a provision cited by Israeli authorities to justify continued operations. Lebanon’s Health Minister described the ongoing strikes as a “massacre” and condemned the targeting of ambulances and medical personnel.

In response to the continued violence and diplomatic efforts, Lebanese figures including Hezbollah have expressed opposition to ongoing negotiations. Hezbollah officials stated that their fighters are included in the government’s casualty counts. A statement from a Lebanese official accused Israel and the United States of aggression aimed at subjugating Lebanon and pledged to continue resistance regardless of the cost.

The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah remains fragile, with recent military activity along the Litani River underscoring the challenges in maintaining the ceasefire and preventing renewed hostilities.