Oct. 16, 2024

Where Israel has opened a new front in southern Lebanon

Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon, now in its third week, expanded in recent days to include a new front near the Mediterranean coast. An analysis of commercial satellite imagery shows multiple locations where Israeli armored vehicles crossed the border from what Israeli officials call a newly established military zone.

Israel has further expanded its closed military zones along the border. On Monday, the Israeli military told residents of Lebanese towns nearly 30 miles from the border — the farthest north yet — to leave their homes and move north of the Awali River.

As Israeli forces have marched into Lebanon, U.N. peacekeeping missions near the border have come under Israeli fire in the last week, injuring several peacekeepers.

On Sunday, Israeli tanks entered a U.N. base near Ramyah, Lebanon, the latest in a series of Israeli challenges to the peacekeeping force since the ground invasion began. The tanks left about 45 minutes later, after the United Nations warned the military was putting peacekeepers in danger.