Jerusalem, Israel. Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel’s military will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, outlining plans to seize territory that makes up nearly a tenth of Lebanon.
Plan to control area up to the Litani
Katz said in a meeting with the military chief of staff that the military would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani” and was creating a “defensive buffer”. The Litani River meets the Mediterranean about 30 km (20 miles) north of the Israeli border with Lebanon.
Background and warnings to Lebanon’s government
Katz has previously threatened Lebanon’s government that it would lose territory if it did not disarm Hezbollah, the militant group backed by Tehran. Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran when it fired into Israel on March 2.
Military actions and legal context
The military has destroyed five bridges over the river since March 13 and has accelerated the demolition of homes in Lebanese villages close to the Israeli border as part of a campaign that Israel says is aimed at Hezbollah and not Lebanese civilians. Under international law, attacks on civilian infrastructure, including homes and bridges, are generally prohibited.
Israeli military response
The Israeli military declined to comment on Katz’s remarks. The military has previously said ground troops were carrying out limited and targeted raids close to the border with Israel.
Buffer zone and operations in southern Lebanon
Katz said there could be no homes or residents in areas of southern Lebanon where there was “terror” in the area, in an apparent reference to Hezbollah. Hezbollah fighters have continued to launch daily rocket and drone attacks into Israeli territory and battle Israeli troops in southern Lebanese villages.
Katz said Israeli soldiers were manoeuvring in Lebanon to establish a “forward defensive line”, fighting Hezbollah militants and destroying infrastructure used by the group, including homes that he said function as “terrorist outposts”.
What impact do you think Israel’s stated plan to control territory up to the Litani River could have on the conflict?
