Israel intensifies attacks in southern Lebanon. Your Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, this Tuesday indicated plans for “destroy all houses” in Lebanese villages near the borderfollowing the “Gaza model.” Likewise, he has indicated that Tel Aviv intends to establish a security zone that “eliminates”
In a statement following a meeting with senior Israeli Army military officials, Katz declared that “all homes in Lebanese villages near the border will be destroyed following the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza,” all with the stated goal of “eliminating threats near the border once and for all.”
In this sense, he has revealed that the Israeli authorities do not contemplate the return of the 600,000 Lebanese women displaced from this area, in southern Lebanon, until plans to establish this area are completed and the security of northern Israel is guaranteed. “The Israel Defense Forces will establish a security zone and maintain security control over the entire area up to the Litani River,” he argued.
In this sense, he has linked the military operation in Lebanon with the war in Iran, insisting that The Israeli strategy seeks to “separate Lebanon from the Iranian scenario”, emphasizing that the objective is “to tear out the teeth of the snake and deprive Hezbollah of its ability to threaten.”
The Israeli authorities have declared their intention to reach, with ground units, the geographical border between southern Lebanon and the rest of the country, which has set off all the alarms in Beirut due to fear of a new territorial annexation by Israel.
In the framework of this offensive, they have already died more than 1,200 people in Lebanon, with 3,600 injured and more than a million displaced. Israel had already launched dozens of bombings against the country in recent months, despite the ceasefire reached in November 2024, arguing that it is acting against Hezbollah activities.
Lebanon asks UN for help
The permanent representative of Lebanon to the UN, Ahmad Arafa, asked this Tuesday the Security Council to act to protect Lebanese territorial integrity in the face of the increase in the Israeli presence in the south of the country and
“We urge the Council to take the necessary measures to urge Israel to stop its incursions and threats to the territorial integrity of Lebanon, as well as its political integrity; to withdraw its forces from the internationally recognized borders and to comply with the United Nations charter,” he requested in a session of the highest UN body convened urgently after the request of France and Indonesia.
Furthermore, in recent hours, the death of three members of the United Nations Interim Force for Lebanon (UNIFIL) due to an attack “of unknown origin”, according to the UN, has focused attention on the area.
