IDF Ground Forces Cross Litani River, Clash with Hezbollah at Zawtar al-Sharqiyah

Israeli Defense Forces crossed the Litani River on May 26 to conduct raids targeting Hezbollah positions north of the traditional buffer zone — a significant escalation of the ground campaign. Israeli and Hezbollah forces clashed around Zawtar al-Sharqiyah on the northern bank of the Litani River. Hezbollah deployed rocket weapons, artillery, loitering drones, and direct point-blank engagement to repel the advance. By evening, the IDF had established a position on the outskirts of the village but had not secured it. The crossing of the Litani — historically the northern limit of Israeli ground operations — represented a major geographic expansion of the conflict and directly challenged the ceasefire framework's territorial basis. UN UNIFIL expressed 'deep alarm' at the IDF's advance north of the Litani.