BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Israeli troops on Tuesday crossed the borderline to operate in southern Lebanon as Israeli strikes against Lebanon's Iran-aligned Hezbollah group continue, Lebanese security sources and eyewitnesses said Tuesday.
They told Xinhua that an Israeli force consisting of a tank and three military bulldozers crossed the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel at around 8:00 a.m. local time, advancing approximately 1 kilometer into Lebanese territory.
The sources added that "the force moved toward the town of Tal al-Nahas, located between the village of Adaisseh and the town of Burj al-Muluk in the eastern sector of the southern border region, before carrying out bulldozing operations in the area."
They noted that "the Lebanese army is monitoring the movement of the Israeli force in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon."
Israeli forces are "operating in southern Lebanon" while continuing strikes against Lebanon's Iran-aligned Hezbollah group, according to an Israeli military statement Tuesday.
The military ground advance across the border and operations in southern Lebanon, along with troop deployments at several points near the border, are part of an "enhanced forward defense posture" to beef up security for local residents in the border area, according to the Israeli military. ■
