Israeli forces have conducted sustained ground operations in southern Lebanon since March 2026, crossing the Litani River and advancing toward Nabatieh, a key Hezbollah stronghold north of the river. By late May, IDF units reached the city’s outskirts, conducted incursions beyond declared lines, issued evacuation orders for surrounding areas, and struck targets in and near Nabatieh, including government and civil defense sites. Operations continued into mid-June with additional strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure and incremental pushes toward overlooking heights, even after a U.S.-brokered conditional ceasefire framework in early June that Hezbollah rejected and Israel stated it would not halt. Trader focus centers on the speed of further IDF maneuvers, Lebanese army positioning, Hezbollah rocket and drone activity, and any renewed diplomatic pauses that could limit deeper entry into the urban center.