Israel Confirms Continued Control Over Southern Lebanon Post-Hezbollah Conflict

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, affirmed that the country will sustain security dominance in a section of southern Lebanon even after concluding its current military campaign against Hezbollah. This includes establishing a buffer zone extending to the Litani River, located approximately 30km from the Israeli-Lebanese border. Katz emphasized that all structures in border-adjacent Lebanese villages would be razed, referencing strategies employed in Gaza’s Rafah and Beit Hanoun areas.

Escalation Following Rocket Attacks

The incursion began on March 2, triggered by Hezbollah’s missile strikes into northern Israel. These attacks came in response to Israel’s assassination of Iran’s supreme leader in late February, marking the onset of the conflict with Iran. Prior to the recent actions, Israel had already executed frequent strikes on Hezbollah targets, despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in 2024.

“At the end of the operation, the IDF will station itself in a security zone within Lebanon, aligned with a defensive perimeter against anti-tank threats, and will retain control over the entire region up to the Litani,” Katz declared in a Tuesday video statement.

Katz further stated that the return of southern Lebanon’s residents to their homes would be restricted south of the Litani until northern communities are deemed secure. This aligns with his prior remarks about preventing displaced people from relocating back until the area is safe.

Human Toll and Displacement

Since early March, Lebanon’s health ministry reports over 1,238 fatalities, including 124 children. The UN notes the loss of 52 healthcare workers. Additionally, three Indonesian peacekeepers and three Lebanese journalists have been killed. The IDF confirmed it eliminated two journalists, labeling them as “terrorists” without presenting supporting evidence. The identity of those responsible for the peacekeepers remains unclear.

More than a million Lebanese citizens, roughly one in six, have been uprooted from their homes, intensifying the nation’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. Israeli officials argue the measures are designed to shield northern communities from Hezbollah attacks.

Cracks in Ceasefire Agreements

Under the 2024 ceasefire deal, Hezbollah was expected to disarm and withdraw from southern Lebanon, with oversight by the Lebanese government and military. However, progress was limited, and Israel maintained multiple military posts in the area. The Lebanese state’s capacity to enforce disarming Hezbollah has consistently been a challenge, raising fears of renewed civil war.

“The Israeli strategy constitutes a collective punishment of civilians and could be part of deliberate plans to expand its territorial influence,” remarked President Joseph Aoun, who criticized the proposed actions.

While Katz reiterated earlier claims about security zones, his latest remarks signal a more enduring Israeli presence in the region. Southern Lebanon, a stronghold of Hezbollah’s Shia Muslim base, also encompasses Christian communities, amplifying the stakes of the conflict.