Israel formally expanded its floor operations in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, authorizing troops to grab extra territory past current positions to ascertain a buffer zone, as Israeli tank fireplace killed a Maronite Catholic priest who had publicly refused to evacuate his village and declared his intention to defend it peacefully, bringing the Lebanese loss of life toll previous 486 and elevating the battle’s humanitarian stakes to their highest level since Hezbollah entered the struggle 9 days in the past.
Protection Minister Israel Katz introduced the expanded floor operation, saying he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had approved the IDF to “advance and maintain extra …
