Israel Moves to Occupy 560 Sq km of Southern Lebanon Up to Litani River
Key Takeaways
- Israel plans to occupy about 560 sq km of southern Lebanon up to the Litani.
- Establish a border buffer zone with ongoing Israeli presence after operations.
- Residents near border ordered to evacuate; mass displacement risk grows.
Israel Extends Buffer Zone
Israel announced extended occupation plans for southern Lebanon to create a buffer zone approximately 560 square kilometers.
Defense Minister Katz declared the IDF will position itself in a security zone inside Lebanon and control the area up to the Litani.
Lebanon's Prime Minister warned Israel will widen its aggression.
Human Rights Watch said Katz's destruction orders could amount to war crimes.
The plan involves forbidding the return of more than 600,000 evacuated residents and demolishing thousands of homes.
Demolition and Displacement
The Israeli army has leveled entire villages near the border.
About 8,000 buildings have been destroyed since March 4.
Shrine sites of religious significance have also been bulldozed.
Katz vowed to destroy all homes in the Rafah and Beit Hanoun pattern.
International law prohibits forced transfer and extensive destruction not justified by military necessity.
Hezbollah Remains Resilient
Despite heavy bombardment and occupation, Hezbollah remains in place.
The Lebanese army maintains order in the unoccupied two-thirds of the country.
Hezbollah leader Nasrallah declared the fire of resistance will continue.
Israeli media acknowledged the group's military capabilities remained largely intact.
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