Tel Aviv [Israel], March 30: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he has instructed the army to advance further into southern Lebanon and ordered an expansion of what he called the "existing security strip." The aim was to prevent the threat posed by Hezbollah and the firing of rockets from the area, Netanyahu said at a briefing.
Netanyahu said that although the pro-Iranian Shiite militia had already been dealt heavy blows, Hezbollah still retained residual capabilities to fire rockets at Israel.
Lebanese officials say the Israeli army is pushing further and further into southern Lebanon with ground troops. The troops have advanced eight kilometres from the border into the interior in the south, Lebanese Defence Minister Michel Menassa said a few days ago.
Many in Lebanon fear a large-scale Israeli ground invasion followed by a prolonged occupation in the south of the country. Israel occupied southern Lebanon for 18 years until 2000.
Source: Qatar Tribune
