Israel Doubles Troops at Lebanon Border, Searches Evacuated Villages

Israel has significantly expanded its military presence along the Lebanese border, more than doubling its troop numbers since March 1. A senior Israeli commander confirmed that soldiers are now actively searching homes in southern Lebanese villages that residents abandoned following Israeli evacuation orders.

Israeli warplanes continue striking Beirut in operations targeting Hezbollah, while heavy artillery fire and thick smoke mark the landscape across southern Lebanon. The escalation represents the deadliest spillover of the broader U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran, prompting hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians to flee areas south of the Litani River — a zone Israel considers a Hezbollah stronghold.

The Iranian-backed militant group began launching rockets into Israel on March 2, entering the conflict in solidarity with Iran. Although Hezbollah's missile capabilities have been substantially weakened, Israeli officials acknowledge the group still holds enough firepower to strike deep inside Israeli territory.

Speaking near the northern Israeli town of Eilon, just four kilometers from the border, an unnamed Israeli commander described the military's positions inside Lebanon as defensive in nature. He stated that troops were conducting searches to locate hidden weapons caches and communications infrastructure within abandoned civilian homes.

Hezbollah denies storing weapons in civilian structures and accuses Israel of demolishing homes to prevent residents from ever returning. Israel rejects these claims. The town of Khiyam, located five kilometers inside the Lebanese border, has emerged as an early focal point of the ground advance, with Israeli forces working to fully clear it before pushing toward the Litani River.

Lebanese authorities report at least 968 deaths since the Israeli campaign began, while Hezbollah has acknowledged losing at least 46 fighters. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed during the southern Lebanon operations.

Residents living near the border describe near-constant explosions as part of their daily reality, with artillery fire erupting every few minutes throughout the day.