Israeli army soldiers stand near their Humvees as they patrol along the border with southern Lebanon, in Upper Galilee, northern Israel, on April 17, 2026. (Credit: Jalaa Marey/AFP)
The Israeli army has revealed that it carried out a military operation, codenamed "Al-Oukab" ("the Eagle"), just minutes before the cease-fire with Lebanon went into effect, during which special forces were deployed in a mountain range that is part of the Anti-Lebanon region.
"Special forces of the Israeli army launched Operation Al-Oukab on Thursday evening and before the cease-fire went into effect, during which the forces landed in the heart of the Cristofini mountain range in southern Anti-Lebanon and established their operational presence in the region," Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X.
"The chief of staff approved the operation, which was overseen by the air force commander and the head of the northern command," the statement said, adding that the Israeli army "is on immediate alert and will continue to eliminate threats in the entire area between the border and the line defined in the cease-fire agreements."
Another army spokesperson, Ella Waweya, said Israeli troops were airlifted to the heart of the mountain range and established their presence there. She stated that this mountain range is called "Cristobani."
