Israeli army expands ground offensive in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army said Thursday it has expanded its ongoing ground offensive in southern Lebanon, as Israel continued deadly airstrikes on the country amid escalating regional tensions, Anadolu reports. A military statement said that the 162nd Division joined the 91st and 36th Divisions in the ongoing assault. The army claimed that the offensive aims to expand a “forward security zone” in southern Lebanon to remove what it calls “immediate threats” and create an additional laywer of security for residents in northern Israel. READ: Israeli strikes kill 22 in Lebanon, death toll exceeds 1,110 Lebanese media reported limited Israeli incursions into border towns, including Khiam, Odaisseh, Kfarkela, and Kfarchouba, and but Hezbollah said that its fighters had pushed back the advancing forces. […]