In brief
In a significant military escalation, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has declared that Israeli troops will take control of a large area in southern Lebanon as part of a campaign against Hezbollah. This decision follows Hezbollah's recent rocket attacks into northern Israel and aims to create a security buffer to protect Israeli communities. Katz announced that several bridges used by Hezbollah have been destroyed, and a security zone will be established, preventing displaced residents from returning until safety is assured.
Israeli troops will control a large swathe of southern Lebanon as part of their campaign against Hezbollah, Defence Minister Israel Katz says. Katz stated that troops had blown up bridges on the Litani River, approximately 30km (19 miles) from the Lebanon-Israel border, and a security zone would be established, with displaced residents not being allowed back until northern Israel was secure. The troops targeted five bridges which he claimed were utilized by Hezbollah for transporting terrorists and weapons.This escalation followed rocket attacks from Iranian-backed Hezbollah into northern Israel, retaliating against strikes that continued despite a ceasefire established in November 2024. Israeli officials emphasized the military's objective of safeguarding northern communities. More than a million individuals have been displaced in Lebanon, intensifying the ongoing humanitarian crisis.Katz plans to create a ‘defensive space’ based on strategies used in Gaza, asserting that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will eliminate Hezbollah terrorists and destroy infrastructure utilized by the group. He confirmed that the thousands of displaced Lebanese in southern regions would not return until security is guaranteed for the northern Israeli residents. Hezbollah, with its stronghold in southern Lebanon, warned of severe consequences if Israel attempts to maintain a military presence. Leaders from this group termed Israel’s actions as an existential threat and pledged to resist this aggression. Katz criticized the Lebanese government for its inaction concerning disarming Hezbollah, while Lebanon’s President, Joseph Aoun, condemned the planned actions as collective punishment against civilians.
