The Israeli military deployed ‌additional forces to southern Lebanon overnight, to take up what a military ​spokesperson on Tuesday described as ​defensive positions to protect Israeli ⁠civilians and strategic sites from ​any potential Hezbollah attack.

“We’re only at ​the borderline area in a defensive manner to prevent attacks against civilians and ​very strategically important points,” Lieutenant ​Colonel Nadav Shoshani said in an online ‌briefing ⁠with reporters.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement he had authorised the military to advance ​and take ​control ⁠of additional positions in Lebanon after Hezbollah fired rockets ​at Israel late on Sunday, ​in ⁠reaction to US and Israeli strikes against Iran.

Israeli forces have occupied ⁠five ​positions in southern Lebanon ​since November 2024.