IDF Reveals it Carried Out Weeklong Raid North Of Litani River

Israeli security officials cleared for publication Tuesday that Egoz and Golani Reconnaissance forces crossed north of the Litani River during a weeklong operation in southern Lebanon, operating near the village of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, about 6 miles from Israeli territory.

The operation stood out because IDF troops crossed the Litani together with heavy Namer armored personnel carriers as opposed to a limited infantry raid, in a move Israeli reports said demonstrated the army’s ability to cross the river again if needed. 

According to the details cleared for publication, the forces crossed the Litani secretly and advanced toward an area from which Hezbollah terrorists had repeatedly fired rockets and mortars at IDF troops. The operation took place on the northern side of one of the most important tactical lines in southern Lebanon.

During the mission, several close-range clashes broke out between the Israeli forces and Hezbollah terrorists. Several IDF soldiers were wounded. Some Israeli reports said around eight soldiers were lightly wounded during the operation, including in close combat and explosive drone attacks.

In one of the clashes, Hezbollah terrorists emerged from a tunnel shaft north of the Litani. The Israeli troops opened fire at very close range. During that battle, an Oketz Unit dog was killed.

The operation also damaged Hezbollah terror infrastructure and harmed the group’s command-and-control capabilities in the Zawtar al-Sharqiyah area. No further details were immediately published on the specific targets destroyed during the raid.

The Litani River has become a central line in Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The river lies north of the Israeli border area and has long been treated as a key marker in discussions about pushing Hezbollah away from communities in northern Israel.

The use of Namer armored vehicles added another layer to the operation. The Namer is a heavy armored vehicle used to move troops under fire. Its crossing showed that the IDF was not only able to send elite infantry units over the river, but could also move heavy armored forces across it.

That capability could matter if Israel decides it needs a wider ground maneuver in Lebanon. The operation showed a crossing route, tested armored movement, and allowed troops to operate in an area Hezbollah had used to fire on Israeli forces.

Lebanese and Arabic-language media had reported Israeli activity and concerns around villages north of the Litani before Israel cleared the full details for publication. Some reports described Israeli moves near Zawtar al-Sharqiyah as part of wider pressure around the river line.

According to Israeli reports, the IDF forces later crossed back over the Litani after completing the mission.