Dozens of Israelis, most of them teenage girls, crossed the border into southern Lebanon on Wednesday afternoon, prompting the IDF and Israel Police to launch a search operation.

Security forces worked to locate the group and return them to Israeli territory after they crossed the border illegally and endangered their lives. The group reportedly included families, and one participant crossed with a toddler before being detained by security forces.

Some of the teenage girls said they entered Lebanon to promote the establishment of an Israeli community in the area. They argued that the achievements of the war could be lost if Israel does not settle southern Lebanon and said they are also working publicly to change government policy on the issue.

The incident follows several similar border crossings in recent months that placed an additional burden on IDF forces operating in the area.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)