Israeli Troops to Control Southern Lebanon Buffer Zone
Israeli forces will assume control over a significant area in southern Lebanon as part of their ongoing campaign against Hezbollah, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz.
Katz stated that troops had demolished bridges on the Litani River, located approximately 30km (19 miles) from the Lebanon-Israel border. A security zone will be established in this area, and displaced residents will not be permitted to return until northern Israel is deemed secure.
He specified that five bridges, which were "used by Hezbollah for the passage of terrorists and weapons," had been destroyed.
Background of the Escalation
The recent escalation began after the Iranian-backed Hezbollah launched rocket attacks into northern Israel. These attacks were in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader and near-daily Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah, despite the ceasefire agreement established in November 2024.
Since the escalation, the Lebanese health ministry reports that over 1,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, including at least 118 children and 40 health workers.
More than one million individuals have been displaced, exacerbating the already severe humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.
Israeli officials emphasize that the objective is to protect communities in northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.
Impact on Local Communities
Residents had returned to towns in the region following the ceasefire. Prior to that, for approximately a year and a half, they had been unable to return due to rocket attacks by Hezbollah.
For both the local communities and the Israeli government, being forced to evacuate again would represent a significant setback, despite Hezbollah's current weakened state.
The fighting intensified after Hezbollah fired upon Israeli positions one day following the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, prompting immediate Israeli retaliation.
Strategic Objectives and Military Actions
During a briefing with defence chiefs on Tuesday, Israel Katz explained that the goal was "to create a defensive space and keep the threat away." This strategy mirrors the approach used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun—major population centers in the Gaza Strip that have been heavily damaged by air strikes and remain under Israeli military control.
Katz added that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were now "manoeuvring into Lebanese territory to seize a front line of defence, eliminating Hezbollah terrorists and destroying the terrorist infrastructures that were established there," including houses near the border which he claimed were used by Hezbollah.
He further stated that the thousands of Lebanese displaced in the south "will not return south of the Litani River until security is guaranteed for the residents of the north" of Israel.
Demographics and Political Context
Southern Lebanon is predominantly the heartland of Lebanon's Shia Muslim community, which forms Hezbollah's main support base. However, the area is also home to other communities, including Christians.
Under the ceasefire agreement that ended the war in 2024, Hezbollah was expected to disarm and withdraw from its positions in the south. This process was to be overseen by the Lebanese government and army.
While some progress was made, it was only partial. Israel maintained several military posts in the south and continued to conduct regular strikes on what it identified as Hezbollah targets.
Although the Lebanese government may have had the will to disarm Hezbollah, it lacked the capacity to do so. The prospect of a major confrontation between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah has been a longstanding concern, raising fears of a return to civil war.
Israel Katz has criticized the Lebanese government for inaction, stating that Israel is now compelled to act because the Lebanese government had done "nothing."
Reactions and Historical Parallels
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli plans, describing them as a "collective punishment against civilians."
The establishment of what Katz termed a "defensive buffer" evokes memories of the buffer zone Israel established in southern Lebanon in 1985, which it maintained until 2000.
One significant reason for Israel's withdrawal at that time was the attrition Hezbollah inflicted. Footage of injured and deceased Israeli soldiers being evacuated by helicopter from the zone contributed to turning Israeli public opinion against the policy.
Currently, Hezbollah has declared its readiness to fight again to prevent Israel from gaining control of southern Lebanon. Hassan Fadlallah, a senior Hezbollah official, described the Israeli actions as an "existential threat."
"We have no choice but to confront this aggression and cling to this land."
