Jerusalem, Israel. Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel would destroy all homes in Lebanese villages near the border and prevent 600,000 people who fled southern Lebanon from returning until northern Israel is secure. He said Israel would impose Gaza-like destruction in the area and establish a buffer zone.
Plan for a security zone up to the Litani River
Katz reiterated plans for Israel to maintain control over a swathe of territory in southern Lebanon up to the Litani River once the war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group ends.
The Litani River meets the Mediterranean about 30 km (20 miles) north of Israel’s border, and the area between it and the border amounts to nearly a tenth of Lebanon’s territory.
Displacement and casualties since the offensive began
More than 1.2 million people have been displaced and another 1,200 have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched an offensive against Hezbollah on March 2, after Hezbollah opened fire in support of Tehran in the regional war.
Earlier this month, the Israeli military ordered residents to leave swathes of southern Lebanon, the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, and Hezbollah’s political heartlands in eastern Lebanon.
Statements on operations and return conditions
Katz said that at the end of the operation, the Israeli military would establish a security zone inside Lebanon as a line of defence against anti-tank missiles, and would maintain security control over the entire area up to the Litani River, including the remaining Litani bridges.
He said Israeli forces would eliminate Hezbollah’s elite Radwan fighters who infiltrated the south and destroy all weapons. He added that displaced residents would not be allowed to return south of the Litani until the safety and security of residents of northern Israel is guaranteed.
Katz said all houses in villages near the Lebanese border would be destroyed, following the model used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, to permanently remove threats near the border.
Military claims and latest strikes
Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said Hezbollah had fired almost 5,000 drones, rockets and missiles at Israel during the conflict.
The Israeli military also announced a new wave of strikes it said were targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Context of the conflict
The war is the second major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah since 2024. Israel said it dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in the last war, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah and thousands of its fighters.
What impact do you think a security zone up to the Litani River would have on displaced civilians in Lebanon?