The Israeli army claimed significant progress in its military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, declaring that it has overcome the group’s forces in all areas where Israeli troops have operated.

According to a statement issued on Monday, the Israeli military's estimates indicated that more than 1,200 Hezbollah fighters have been killed since the start of its ground offensive, with over 2,000 operatives eliminated since the conflict began in October 2023. Among those killed are key leaders, including seven brigade commanders, 21 battalion commanders, and around two dozen company commanders.

Hezbollah appears to be struggling to bring in reinforcements as the seizure of large quantities of weapons by Israeli forces has reportedly hindered the group’s ability to launch significant attacks, the statement noted. 

While Hezbollah still retains about 30% of its pre-war rocket arsenal—amounting to thousands of rockets—the Israeli army believes that the elimination of many high-ranking commanders has disrupted the group’s capacity for large-scale rocket fire, which had been anticipated earlier in the conflict.

The statement stressed that the Israeli army's ultimate objective is to conclude its operations in southern Lebanon in the coming weeks, noting that  residents of northern Israel are expected to be able to return to their homes once the Hezbollah threat is neutralized in the border region.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced that it repeatedly targeted Israeli troops in south Lebanon border villages over several hours on Monday, saying at least one of the attacks caused "certain casualties".

The group said it targeted "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers on the eastern outskirts of the village of Markaba" with three separate rocket salvos, adding that its fighters also targeted Israeli troops attempting "to evacuate the dead and wounded". Artillery shells were also fired at Israeli soldiers near Kfarkila, the group said. 

Later on Monday, Hezbollah said that it had launched "quality rockets" at the Glilot base of the Military Intelligence Unit 8200 in the Tel Aviv suburbs, adding the attack was "in defense of Lebanon," "in response to Israeli aggressions" and dedicated to their slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.