Israeli troops will control a large swathe of southern Lebanon as part of their campaign against Hezbollah, Defense Minister Israel Katz says.
Katz explained that troops would establish a security zone up to the Litani River, approximately 30km (19 miles) from the Lebanon-Israel border, insisting that displaced residents would not be allowed back until northern Israel was deemed safe.
As part of the military operation, five bridges that Katz claimed were 'used by Hezbollah for the passage of terrorists and weapons' have been destroyed.
The latest escalation began after Hezbollah's retaliatory rocket attacks into northern Israel in response to the killing of Iran's supreme leader and consistent Israeli strikes on Lebanon, despite a ceasefire in place since November 2024.
Over 1,000 individuals have reportedly lost their lives in Lebanon, according to health authorities, including many children and health workers, with more than a million people displaced, prompting fears of a humanitarian crisis.
Israeli officials assert that the objective is to safeguard communities in northern Israel from potential Hezbollah assaults. Katz stressed the need to eliminate what he described as 'terrorists' and their infrastructure, echoing previous strategies utilized in Gaza.
The Lebanese government has expressed its intentions to disarm Hezbollah, yet the militia has remained unyielding regarding its arms. President Joseph Aoun has condemned the Israeli military actions as a 'policy of collective punishment against civilians.'
