Israeli forces have completed their deployment along a forward “anti-tank missile defense line” in southern Lebanon, the military said, as operations against Hezbollah continue. The army did not provide precise details on how far troops have advanced into Lebanese territory.

Israeli media reports indicate that, for now, the military does not plan to move further than approximately 20 kilometers north of the Israel-Lebanon border.

“At this stage, soldiers have completed their deployment along the anti-tank missile defense line and continue to operate in the area to strengthen the forward defensive posture and remove threats to residents and communities of northern Israel," the Israeli military said in a statement.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has repeatedly stated that the country intends to establish a “security zone” in southern Lebanon extending to the Litani River, roughly 30 kilometers from the border, aiming to prevent attacks using rockets, drones, or missiles against communities in northern Israel.

The Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot reported that the military is expected to present the government with “an operational plan for controlling the first line of villages as a deep security zone up to the anti-tank line.” Meanwhile, Haaretz, citing military sources, said the army is preparing to reinforce its positions in southern Lebanon but has no immediate plans to advance deeper into the country. The current deployment is intended to prevent Hezbollah from launching anti-tank missile attacks on northern Israeli communities. These missiles reportedly have a range of roughly 10 kilometers, highlighting the strategic importance of forward positions near southern Lebanese villages about 10 kilometers from the Litani River.

Israeli defense officials are reportedly considering evacuating civilians from the area north of the Litani River to the Zahrani River to reduce risks to troops deployed inside southern Lebanon, according to the Israeli news site Walla. The report notes that the military continues to intensify ground operations, pressing Hezbollah along the Litani River.

On the ground, Israeli forces have established what they describe as “operational control” along the Litani River, destroying most bridges while keeping only two under strict security monitoring. Forces are also active in Nabatiyeh, a major economic hub in southern Lebanon, where infrastructure linked to Hezbollah has been targeted.

A senior Israeli military official told Walla that troops recently reached areas not previously entered during the ground offensive, dubbed “Northern Arrows,” including the town of Qantara in the Marjeyoun district north of Khiyam. Engineers have uncovered underground infrastructure carved into rock, designed to withstand airstrikes, house personnel for extended periods, and enable attacks during ground maneuvers. The army plans to sweep the entire area south of the Litani, destroying both above- and below-ground Hezbollah infrastructure that the group has built over more than 20 years.

In a notable development, the report said Israel's army Chief of Staff has approved deploying tactics previously used in the Gaza Strip, including explosive-laden robots known as “Panda,” containing hundreds of kilograms of explosives, to target tunnels, buildings, and command centers.