Netanyahu Confirms IDF Crossed Litani River as Israel Expands Lebanon Ground Operations

Analysis
IDF forces are likely to remain north of the Litani River through June 28. Zamir's public statement that the forward defense line "does not limit us" decouples Israeli military tempo from the Pentagon diplomatic track, where Lebanon requires ceasefire as a precondition while Israel signals it will maneuver wherever operationally required. Friday's crossing advances beyond the March occupation zone, and the concurrent stall in US-Iran talks removes a potential external brake on Israeli operations. Moderate confidence rests on convergent senior-leader statements and observable force movements, offset by Lebanese characterization of Friday's crossing as geographically limited and close to the border, which supports a reading that Israel is conducting tactical probes rather than establishing a sustained defensive line. Lebanese negotiators weighing attendance at next week's State Department track will calibrate that decision against whether IDF forces hold or withdraw from positions north of the Litani.