Israeli troops reach symbolic Litani River in southern Lebanon

Israeli ground troops have reached the symbolic Litani River during their advance in southern Lebanon, the military said on Tuesday.

The Israeli army published a picture on the social media platform X that apparently showed soldiers crossing a bridge over the river.

Numerous weapons and enemy infrastructure have been found and destroyed in the area, the message said.

As part of a ceasefire deal expected soon, Israel wants the Lebanese Hezbollah militia to withdraw permanently behind the Litani River, 30 kilometres from the official border. This withdrawal was also specified in UN resolution 1701, which marked the end of the last Lebanon War in 2006.

A draft ceasefire agreement provides, among other things, for the full implementation of the resolution and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.