JERUSALEM – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday that his country intends to create and maintain a security buffer zone throughout southern Lebanon extending to the Litani River after concluding military operations against Hezbollah.
Following a security briefing, Katz outlined the plan in an official statement, saying the Israeli Defense Forces would maintain authority over the region up to the Litani River, including remaining bridges across the waterway. He described the initiative as establishing a “security zone” while eliminating Hezbollah’s elite Radwan military units that have moved into the territory and destroying weaponry in the area.
The defense minister also stated that more than 600,000 Lebanese civilians who were evacuated to areas north of the Litani River would not be permitted to return to southern Lebanon until Israeli officials can ensure the security of northern Israeli communities.
Katz further announced that border villages in Lebanon would face complete destruction, stating this would follow “the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, in order to permanently remove threats near the border to northern residents” of Israel.
