Full Breakdown
Israeli Golani Brigade Secures Wadi Saluki, Presses Hezbollah Back
6/11/2026, 8:58:07 PM
Operational Capture of Wadi Saluki
The Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion, under Lt. Col. M, completed an operation to seize and hold the area north of the Saluki River in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces dismantled hundreds of structures used by Hezbollah, eliminated more than 50 militants, and established forward defensive positions that extend from the Saluki River to Beaufort Castle.
Background & Context
The Israeli Defense Forces entered Lebanon in early March 2024, confronting Hezbollah’s entrenched positions. The Saluki corridor had long served as a launch point for explosive drones and indirect-fire attacks against Israeli troops and northern civilian communities. The current operation follows earlier penetrations in the same sector that were limited to short-term raids.
Key Figures & Units
Lt. Col. M, a 15-year IDF veteran who served in Gaza during the 2025 “Chariots of Fire” operations, commands Battalion 13. The mission was coordinated with the 7th Armored Brigade, the elite Egoz Unit, and supporting elements of the 36th Division, as well as Israeli Air Force, tank, artillery, and tactical intelligence units.
Timeline of Recent Actions
- Early March 2024 – IDF forces cross into Lebanon.
- Two weeks ago – Battalion 13 receives orders to occupy the Wadi Saluki sector and moves in at night.
- Following the occupation – Ground forces clear the area, conduct house-to-house combat, and secure supply routes.
- Upcoming – The battalion will spend several weeks refitting and resting before its next assignment.
Data & Statistics
- Israeli casualties in the Saluki operation: 3 soldiers killed.
- Hezbollah casualties: approximately 50 fighters killed; more than 50 militants neutralized.
- Terror infrastructure: hundreds of structures destroyed, including weapons caches containing explosives, anti-tank missiles, and anti-aircraft missiles.
- Additional findings: Iranian-origin military maps and strategy documents recovered.
On-the-Ground Reports
Combat included a close-quarters house battle in which a soldier named Tuvia Lifshitz was killed while aiding wounded comrades. In another engagement, troops marched seven kilometres through rain while under mortar fire, evacuating the injured by helicopter. The unit reports ongoing FPV-drone threats, mitigated by nets, specialized guns, and heightened auditory vigilance.
Official Statements & Responses
The IDF announced that forces have achieved operational control of the Saluki sector, removing the direct threat to the Galilee Panhandle and Metula. Spokespersons emphasized that the area had been a primary launch site for Hezbollah’s drones and indirect fire, and that ground operations are essential to sustain security for northern Israeli villages.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on battalion-wide losses: one report cites 52 soldiers and commanders killed during intense fighting on Oct 7 2023, while another records only three fatalities in the current Saluki operation. Precise counts of the weapons caches recovered remain unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is a lot of strong spirit,” — Lt. Col. M, Battalion 13 Commander
- “We were raised on the stories of the IDF battles at the Saluki from 1997. Now it was easier to get there,” — Lt. Col. M
- “There needs to be patience… This is guerrilla warfare. It’s not going to be ‘one operation, and we are done.’ You cannot just attack one area, and it is over. You need to act systematically. But we prevent attacks and invasions, and penetrations into our [northern civilian] villages. That will not and cannot happen,” — Lt. Col. M
- “When you stand on the significant Beaufort ridge, you see the vast area we’ve created between the enemy and the residents of northern Israel,” — Lt. Col. M
- “A month and a half ago, I was amazed at the amount of weapons we found — all types and kinds. This is known in guerrilla warfare: whenever the IDF reaches a point, the enemy retreats to rear lines. This serves the security of northern residents.” — Lt. Col. M
Why It Matters
Securing the Saluki corridor pushes Hezbollah’s drone and rocket launch lines farther from Israeli civilian zones, shifting the front line from defensive gates to forward positions. The operation aims to reduce indirect-fire incidents and enhance the safety of northern communities.
What’s Next
The 13th Battalion will use the forthcoming weeks to replenish equipment, treat injuries, and rest before undertaking its next mission in the ongoing Lebanon campaign.
