The Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday that its troops recently crossed the Litani River for a weeklong raid against Hezbollah, as the terror group’s leader rejected any attempt by Israeli and Lebanese officials to achieve its disarmament during upcoming peace talks in Washington.

The weeklong raid was led by the Golani Brigade’s Reconnaissance Unit. The IDF said the troops achieved “operational control” over the area and worked to clear it of Hezbollah infrastructure.

The soldiers did not cross the line demarcating the IDF’s new security zone in southern Lebanon, referred to by some in the army as the “Yellow Line,” which is also the term used for the ceasefire line in the Gaza Strip.

During the raid, the military said, troops encountered numerous Hezbollah operatives and killed dozens of them in close-quarters combat and by directing airstrikes.

Officers involved in the operation described the terrain as “very complex,” as the river in the area is situated in a forested valley. Despite this, the troops managed to cross the river with armored vehicles. The army carried out engineering activity in the area to enable easier crossing of the river by troops in the future if required, the army said.

The Israeli Air Force struck over 100 targets in the area in support of the ground troops, the military added.

Inside a Hezbollah tunnel found by IDF troops near the Litani River in southern Lebanon, in a video published by the IDF on May 12, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)

Israeli strikes Monday night on a town in southern Lebanon killed six people and wounded seven others, according to a Lebanese state media report that did not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

According to the National News Agency (NNA), Israeli strikes hit a house in Kfar Dounine, a town about 95 kilometers (59 miles) from Beirut.

NNA reported the wounded were transported to hospitals in the coastal city of Tyre.

There was no immediate comment from the IDF on the strike.

IDF: Struck 45 Hezbollah targets in 24 hours

The IDF said Tuesday morning that it had struck some 45 total Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon over the preceding 24 hours, including command centers, surveillance posts, staging grounds, buildings used by the terror group, and some 10 weapon depots.

The IAF also struck Hezbollah missile launchers and several operatives who posed a threat to IDF troops in the area, the military added.

On Monday, the IDF said troops identified and struck a Hezbollah launch cell after it fired rockets at forces operating in the area. The army published footage of the strike.

תיעוד: כוחות אוגדה 91 חיסלו חוליית שיגור שפעלה להעביר משגר טילים על גבי משאית לאחר שביצעה ירי לעבר כוחותינו Advertisement if(typeof........

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