Israel Claims Control Over Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon Amid Escalating Tensions

Tue Mar 24 2026 19:38:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Israel's Defence Minister announces military control over southern Lebanon to counter Hezbollah threats, following a series of retaliatory attacks.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced that the Israeli military will establish a significant buffer zone in southern Lebanon as part of operations against Hezbollah. This follows intensified skirmishes and retaliatory strikes resulting from Hezbollah's rocket fire. The Israeli strategy aims to protect northern Israeli communities and has already led to the destruction of key infrastructure used by Hezbollah. The implications for both humanitarian conditions in Lebanon and security for Israel remain severe as the conflict escalates.

Israeli troops will control a large swathe of southern Lebanon as part of their campaign against Hezbollah, Defence Minister Israel Katz says.

Katz stated that troops had blown up bridges on the Litani River, approximately 30 km from the Lebanon-Israel border, establishing a security zone from which displaced residents would not be allowed to return until northern Israel is deemed safe.

Five bridges used by Hezbollah for the passage of terrorists and weapons had been demolished, as part of what Israeli officials describe as necessary defensive measures.

The latest escalation stemmed from Hezbollah firing rockets into northern Israel, reportedly in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, along with ongoing Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire established in November 2024.

According to Lebanese health authorities, over 1,072 people have been killed during the recent conflicts, including at least 121 children. The battles have exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, displacing more than a million people.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) aim to create a defensive buffer zone based on strategies employed in previous conflicts, notably in Gaza. Enhanced military operations target Hezbollah's capabilities, with Israeli officials emphasizing the importance of protecting communities in northern Israel.

As fighting escalates, Israeli residents, who returned to their homes in the months following a prior ceasefire, face the prospects of further evacuations.

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli plans as collective punishment against civilians, intensifying fears of a humanitarian disaster alongside the military objectives.

As tensions mount, Hezbollah has indicated its readiness to confront Israel, claiming existential threats to its territory, with officials stating that resistance against Israeli incursions will continue.