Israeli forces cross key Lebanon river in expanded ground offensive

Israeli forces have advanced to positions north of Lebanon's Litani River, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, as Israel escalates attacks against Hezbollah militants after warning thousands more Lebanese to flee their villages. The Israeli advance came as the US military ​hosted Israeli and Lebanese ‌defence representatives in Washington on Friday to pursue a US-brokered plan to forge peace between the two countries and disarm Iran-backed ⁠Hezbollah.