The Israeli Army announced the start of a "large-scale operation in the Beaufort Heights and the Wadi Saluki area in southern Lebanon." Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee said via “X” that “the Northern Command launched a command operation in the Beaufort Heights (Beaufour) and the Wadi Saluki area in southern Lebanon, with the aim of destroying infrastructure and liquidating Hezbollah members, within the framework of strengthening operational control in southern Lebanon and removing the direct threat from the Galilee finger and the town of Metulla.” He added that the operation began several days ago, "as large ground forces, including the Golani Brigade, the 7th Brigade, the Givati ​​Brigade, the Fire Brigade, and the Multi-Dimensional Unit, operating under the command of the 36th Division and under intelligence guidance from the Military Intelligence Authority, began carrying out offensive activity to expand the front line of defense." He continued: "Chief of Staff General Eyal Zamir approved the operation, and combat preparation procedures for it were implemented in an organized manner, including fire preparations and advance operational preparations to prepare the field under the leadership of the Northern Command. The operation focuses on imposing control over the Beaufort Heights and the Wadi Saluki area, deepening the strike directed against Hezbollah, and destroying central infrastructure established in the highlands under Iranian guidance, which Hezbollah used to manage the fighting and implement many plans." He said that the forces were working "against launching infrastructure established in the region, from which hundreds of launching operations were carried out towards citizens of the State of Israel and Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon." He pointed out that Israeli forces “crossed the Litani River and expanded their attacks against Hezbollah to the north of the river, while operations are expanding in the meantime to additional areas. Before the forces entered, the Air Force launched intense raids on Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the region, within a broad fire cover that also included artillery and tank fire. The forces also completed a series of important strikes against controlling positions in the region, and carried out combing and neutralizing military structures in the Litani area, in addition to necessary engineering work.” To create suitable conditions for the offensive operation. He said: "We are working in the vicinity of Nabatieh, which is one of Hezbollah's main power centers in southern Lebanon, and it is prepared and prepared to expand the attack as needed. This operation joins dozens of other activities that our forces have carried out in recent weeks, as part of the continuation of the strikes directed against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon."