JERUSALEM, April 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Israel's military chief of staff on Wednesday said he had ordered areas south of Lebanon's Litani River to be turned into a Hezbollah "kill zone" as troops pressed a major offensive there.

"I have ordered that all of the area of south Lebanon up to the Litani (River) line be turned into a Hezbollah terrorist kill zone," chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on a visit to troops operating in the area.

"We are advancing and striking Hezbollah and they are retreating," Zamir added.

He said troops had killed "more than 1,700" militants since the operation began on March 2, describing Hezbollah as "weakened and isolated in Lebanon".