Israeli troops crossed the Litani River near the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, roughly 10 kilometers from the Israeli border, during a recent operation targeting Hezbollah positions, the Israeli military said on Tuesday.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the week-long raid was led by the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit and supported by additional forces. The military said troops established what it described as “operational control” over the area and worked to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure.

The IDF stressed that its forces did not cross beyond the boundary marking what it refers to as a new security zone in southern Lebanon, referred to as the “Yellow Line.”

During the operation, Israeli forces reportedly engaged multiple Hezbollah fighters in a series of close-range battles. The military said dozens of operatives were killed, both in direct firefights and through coordinated air support.

Several Israeli soldiers sustained light injuries in the exchanges.

In one of the incidents, the Israeli military said, troops encountered Hezbollah fighters emerging from a tunnel north of the river, leading to a brief but intense firefight. 

The army said its forces also uncovered a range of Hezbollah military assets in the area, including underground tunnels, weapons storage facilities, and rocket launch sites.

Military officers involved in the operation described the area as highly challenging, noting that the Litani River runs through a heavily wooded valley. Despite the terrain, Israeli forces reportedly managed to cross the river using armored vehicles.

The IDF added that engineering units carried out work in the area aimed at facilitating future crossings of the river, should operational needs require it.

In parallel, the Israeli Air Force conducted strikes on more than 100 targets in support of ground operations, according to the military. These strikes, it said, were intended to assist troops on the ground and disrupt Hezbollah positions throughout the sector.