Israel's Army Chief Orders Killing of All Hezbollah Fighters in Southern Lebanon

In a significant escalation of the conflict, the Israeli military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, has issued a stark directive: eliminate all Hezbollah fighters operating in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River. This command, delivered during a troop visit to the front lines, designates the entire area as a "killing zone" for Hezbollah operatives. Zamir asserted that the Israeli army has killed "more than 1700" fighters since the operation began on March 2nd, claiming Hezbollah is "weakened and isolated in Lebanon."

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I have ordered that the entire area in southern Lebanon up to the Litani line becomes a killing zone for Hezbollah terrorists.

The directive comes amidst continued, intense cross-border exchanges of fire between the Israeli Defense Forces and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. These clashes persist despite the first direct talks between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in decades, held recently in Washington. The Israeli Security Cabinet is reportedly deliberating on a potential ceasefire, though the situation on the ground remains volatile. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that at least three rescue workers were killed in multiple Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, with a fourth missing and six others injured.

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We are advancing and hitting Hezbollah and they are retreating.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video released during the Security Cabinet meeting, affirmed that the military's operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah were ongoing, with forces nearing the capture of the southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil, a known Hezbollah stronghold. Netanyahu stated he had instructed the military to expand the security zone in southern Lebanon. The ongoing conflict and the explicit orders for elimination highlight the deep-seated animosity and the high stakes involved. While international attention often focuses on the broader regional implications, for the communities in southern Lebanon, this is a brutal reality of daily life, marked by destruction, loss, and the constant threat of violence. The calls for a ceasefire, particularly under pressure from Washington, contrast sharply with the harsh rhetoric and actions on the ground, underscoring the complex and dangerous dynamics of this protracted conflict.

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Israel has attacked rescue teams three times in a row.