Jerusalem: Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has pledged to prevent Hezbollah from reoccupying the southern Lebanese border area following ongoing military operations. During a visit to the Lebanon-Israel border on Sunday, Gallant assessed the situation with military commanders and observed from an outpost overlooking southern Lebanon.

He emphasized that Israel views all southern Lebanese villages associated with Hezbollah infrastructure as military targets. Gallant noted that Hezbollah militants have constructed numerous underground tunnels and weapons storage facilities in these areas.

"I have instructed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) at all levels to ensure the destruction of these Hezbollah infrastructures and to make sure that terrorists cannot return to these areas," he said. He described the current operations as "powerful and effective," with IDF troops actively destroying both above-ground and underground Hezbollah assets.

Gallant assured that even after the IDF's withdrawal, Israel will not permit Hezbollah terrorists to return to these regions.

Fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border continued on Sunday, with the Israeli military claiming to have targeted around 200 Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, including rocket launchers and anti-tank missile sites. The military reported that 28 soldiers were injured in clashes with Hezbollah fighters.

The IDF has urged residents in over 21 southern Lebanese villages to evacuate north of the Awali River for their safety. An Israeli military spokesperson posted on social media, advising residents to leave their homes immediately due to the presence of Hezbollah elements and weapons in the vicinity.

In retaliation, Hezbollah has intensified its attacks on Israeli targets, reportedly launching at least 90 rockets into northern Israel by Sunday evening. The group also claimed responsibility for sending a squadron of drones to strike a training base of the Golani Brigade in Binyamina, northern Israel. This attack marked a rare incident in Israel where a drone evaded air defenses, resulting in at least four Israeli soldiers killed and many others injured.

Since the start of what Israel described as a "limited" ground campaign in Lebanon in early October, targeting Hezbollah positions, airstrikes on southern Beirut have also increased. According to Lebanon's Health Ministry, the death toll from these Israeli airstrikes since October 8, 2023, has reached 2,306, with injuries totaling 10,698.

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