Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that Israeli ground forces had crossed Lebanon's Litani River, marking a significant territorial advance amid ongoing U.S.-brokered cease-fire negotiations. The military move comes as diplomatic talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials were scheduled to take place at the Pentagon, focusing on stabilizing the border region.

Netanyahu's announcement signals intensified operations against Hezbollah, with Israel issuing fresh evacuation warnings for southern Lebanese towns. More than 3,300 people have died in Lebanon since fighting erupted in early March, according to the health ministry. The advance beyond what Israel calls its forward defense line undermines fragile diplomatic efforts to end the monthlong conflict.

Military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir confirmed forces were moving into new areas, while Israeli strikes near Beirut resumed after nearly a month. Hard-line pressure on Netanyahu has pushed for a more aggressive campaign to secure northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah rocket attacks.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized that reaching a cease-fire represents the basic entry point for further negotiations. The conflict's escalation poses risks to broader U.S.-Iran talks, as Tehran demands an end to Israeli strikes against the Iranian-backed militant group.