Israel has intensified operations in southern Lebanon amid escalating cross-border fire with Hezbollah, signalling the potential establishment of a long-term “security zone”.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said forces aim to extend control up to the Litani River, citing the need to protect northern Israeli communities from sustained rocket attacks.
“We have ordered an acceleration in the destruction of Lebanese homes in contact-line villages to neutralize threats to Israeli communities, in accordance with the model of Beit Hanoun and Rafah in Gaza,” Katz said, referring to border towns that were largely obliterated.
Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, have accused Israel of seeking to entrench a buffer zone and expand territorial control. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports increased risks to peacekeepers as fighting intensifies.
Key developments:
• Israeli military deploys a third division into southern Lebanon
• Over 1,000 reported killed and more than one million displaced
• Airstrikes target infrastructure, including bridges over the Litani River
• Heavy fighting reported in Khiam, a strategic southern town
Diplomatic efforts remain limited, with no clear pathway to de-escalation as regional tensions persist.
ℹ️ AP News
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