Israeli forces have conducted sustained ground operations and airstrikes in southern Lebanon as part of the broader 2026 conflict with Hezbollah, advancing beyond the Litani River for the first time since 2006. By late May, IDF units reached the outskirts of Nabatieh, issuing evacuation orders for surrounding towns, conducting artillery and drone strikes on reported Hezbollah infrastructure, and testing defenses around the city and nearby heights. These moves align with efforts to establish buffer zones south of the Litani and disrupt militant capabilities. Recent reports through early June note continued incursions, strikes near Nabatieh, and parallel U.S.-mediated ceasefire talks that include provisions for Lebanese army security zones. Trader assessments reflect the pace of these ground advances, Hezbollah responses, and any diplomatic pauses or escalations within the market's resolution window.