Israeli forces have pushed deep into southern Lebanon, reaching the Litani River and capturing extensive underground infrastructure built by Hezbollah over two decades, as U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Switzerland for talks with Iran — a diplomatic effort complicated by the expanding Israeli military presence across Lebanese territory.
The IDF's 7th Armored Brigade breached the path toward the Litani River in southern Lebanon and moved toward the first line of Lebanese villages after receiving clearance from the political echelon. The brigade's bulldozer pushed forward until its blade touched the waters of the Litani River, after which tank crews advanced along the newly breached route. The maneuver represents a significant expansion of Israel's ground operations in Lebanon, occurring after a fragile ceasefire with Hezbollah had already collapsed.
Underground Infrastructure and Civilian Displacement
7th Armored Brigade Commander Col. Shaul Yisraeli said the brigade successfully breached strategic pathways to the Litani River while neutralizing subterranean "cities of refuge" constructed by Hezbollah over the last two decades. He described the infrastructure as built over roughly 20 years by the Iranians alongside Hezbollah, including rooms, organized weaponry, firing and anti-tank positions facing Misgav Am, and a launch base for raids into Israeli territory. One such complex in Qantara is 1.2 kilometers long, with another measuring 700 meters, both containing dozens of rooms dug deep into the ground and packed with weapons.
The brigade launched a maneuver toward the first line of Lebanese villages, including Taybe, Markaba, and Rabb El Thalathine, aiming to prevent raids against northern Israeli communities and anti-tank missile fire. Yisraeli said the dramatic phase came with the capture of Hezbollah's "city of refuge" in Qantara, which sits directly above the Wadi Salouqi and a junction connecting to the Litani, effectively commanding the villages of Froun and Ghandouriyeh. The Golani Brigade joined in the second stage of operations.
Escalating Combat and New Threats
The fighters of the 7th Brigade faced an unprecedented attack involving hundreds of suicide drones, according to Yisraeli. He said explosive drones had become a central threat and called them a "new threat that we deal with every day, using tactics and drills." In the initial attacks, dozens of anti-tank missiles were fired at Israeli forces, he said, adding that "the enemy was deployed in highly established, widespread ambushes across the terrain."
Yisraeli said the brigade's battalions joined forces with the Golani Brigade to capture all the terrain overlooking the Litani and the Beaufort ridge, conducting raids toward Ghandouriyeh to locate and destroy terror infrastructure above and below ground. He said, "The ground was burning," and added that the brigade completed the capture of this area only in the last two weeks, leaving dozens of terrorists dead. When the 7th Brigade killed 68 terrorists in recent weeks, engineering companies played a part in it, he said.
An additional tank company, operating alongside the Commando Brigade, attacked Hezbollah infrastructure north of Beaufort, including structures dug deep into the ground from which anti-tank missile launchers were aimed at the Metula area and the Galilee Panhandle. Yisraeli said Hezbollah organized southern Lebanon as a multi-layered combat system, with one line meant to strike the Israeli home front, another serving as a staging ground for the Radwan Force before a raid into the Galilee, another designed to delay the IDF's ground maneuver, and another used for storing weapons, ammunition, or housing reserve fighters.
Diplomatic Complications
As the Israeli military expanded its presence in southern Lebanon, U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived for talks in Switzerland. A separate report said that as Vance arrived for talks in Switzerland, Iran was sending mixed messages and seeking to consolidate its influence in Lebanon. The report said the past few days had demonstrated the challenge posed by the Israeli military's continued presence across southern Lebanon. On Saturday afternoon, Vance expressed optimism about the talks with Iran.
Yisraeli said Hezbollah's use of suicide drones would continue to intensify, with explosives becoming heavier and operational ranges expanding. He said, "We must not obscure reality. Drones have become a significant component that absolutely requires us to change our operational patterns. This is a very significant matter." He added, "I hope this serves as a wake-up call for the state to invest in what the IDF has requested for many years regarding a solution to the drone threat. Now is the moment to snap out of it and move this forward."
Ahead of the maneuver toward Wadi Salouqi, Yisraeli said the brigade studied the complications encountered during the Battle of Salouqi in the Second Lebanon War, marking the 20th anniversary of that operation. He said the mission's purpose nearly 20 years ago had not been sufficiently clear, but this time the volume of munitions fired at the forces was larger and more varied.
Security Concerns at Home
Yisraeli said a Hezbollah terrorist had recently infiltrated all of the IDF's defensive lines in southern Lebanon, reached the Moshav of Margaliot by crossing the fence, and opened fire with a pistol at forces until he was neutralized. He said, "I think that beyond the basic aspects of any incident where a terrorist infiltrates, we need to examine our defense system — all the forces, and the way we deploy them." He added, "We are currently more occupied with the attack and maneuvering forward" and said, "We saw what happens when a thousand terrorists descend upon communities on October 7th, God forbid. We absolutely need to ensure we do not forget about defense."
Toward the end of an interview, Yisraeli said, "The wives of the battalion commanders" were his greatest heroes. He said, "Ultimately, our battalion commanders are the demographic bearing the most complex burden — cognitive, professional, and also physical. Continuous combat. Their wives are raising young children." He said the IDF needed to better plan its operational pattern during prolonged war and added, "I am certain the Chief of Staff understands this, too, and will guide things in that direction."
Why This Matters:
Israel's advance to the Litani River marks a significant expansion of its military footprint in Lebanon, occurring as the United States attempts to broker diplomatic progress with Iran. The continued Israeli presence across southern Lebanese territory complicates efforts to de-escalate regional tensions and creates facts on the ground that may constrain diplomatic options. The discovery of extensive underground infrastructure built over two decades underscores the depth of Hezbollah's military preparations, while the intensifying drone threat signals an evolving battlefield that will require new defensive investments. The fragile ceasefire's collapse and the ongoing combat raise questions about whether military operations are creating conditions for lasting security or deepening a cycle that makes diplomatic resolution more distant. For Lebanese civilians in the affected villages and Israeli communities in the north, the expansion of ground operations extends a state of uncertainty and displacement with no clear timeline for resolution.