Israeli forces have established a military zone stretching roughly 10 kilometres north of Lebanon's…
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces "are remaining in Lebanon in a reinforced security buffer zone". Lebanon and Hezbollah have rejected the move as an occupation of sovereign territory that violates th…
Israeli forces have established a military zone stretching roughly 10 kilometres north of Lebanon's southern border, the first time Israel has referred to such a boundary in Lebanon since a 10-day ceasefire took effect on Thursday23. The Israeli military said on Saturday that forces operating south of what it calls a "Yellow Line" had identified individuals who "violated the ceasefire understandings" by approaching from the north in a manner that "posed an immediate threat"3.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces "are remaining in Lebanon in a reinforced security buffer zone"2. Lebanon and Hezbollah have rejected the move as an occupation of sovereign territory that violates the ceasefire agreement2.
The announcement follows Israeli operations in border areas that include artillery shelling, demolitions and land-clearing activities2. Israeli bulldozers have been continuing home demolitions near the southern border1. Israeli troops routinely fire on anyone approaching similar lines established elsewhere, and have demolished hundreds of homes in zones under their control3.
Tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese families have begun returning to southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs despite the ongoing operations14. Vehicles loaded with mattresses and belongings streamed south on Saturday as families travelled to inspect their properties14. "There's destruction and it's unliveable. We're taking our things and leaving again," said Fadel Badreddine, displaced from Nabatieh1.
A preliminary assessment by Lebanese authorities conducted before the truce found that nearly 40,000 homes had been destroyed or damaged1. Beirut's southern suburbs were among the worst-hit areas, followed by districts across southern Lebanon1.
Senior Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qamati warned on Saturday that "Israeli treachery is expected at any time, and this is a temporary truce"4. He advised residents to "take a breath, relax a little, but do not abandon the places you have taken refuge in until we are completely reassured about your return"4. The Lebanese army has advised residents to postpone their return4.
Lebanese authorities report Israeli attacks killed nearly 2,300 people throughout the conflict and displaced more than one million, primarily from southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs4.