Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced plans for Israel to seize a substantial buffer zone across southern Lebanon as part of broader military operations targeting Hezbollah. The protective security area would stretch to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) north of the Lebanon-Israel border, according to Katz’s announcement made on March 24, 2026.
“The principle is clear: there is terror and missiles, no homes and no residents – and the IDF is inside,” Katz stated in remarks that underscored the military’s intent to establish a secure zone.
Katz confirmed that residents displaced from the region would remain barred from returning until full safety for Israel’s northern communities could be assured. Israeli forces have already demolished five bridges they allege Hezbollah used to facilitate terrorist movements and weapon shipments.
The recent surge in hostilities follows Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a U.S.-Israeli operation against the Iranian regime—a key sponsor of Hezbollah. Despite Lebanon’s government moving to ban Hezbollah early in the Iran conflict, Israel has intensified operations within the country.
Lebanon’s health ministry reports that the ongoing fighting has claimed over 1,000 lives within Lebanon, including at least 118 children and 40 health workers. With more than a million civilians displaced from their homes, experts warn of an imminent humanitarian crisis.
Katz emphasized that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops are advancing into Lebanese territory to dismantle terrorist networks and build a lasting defensive perimeter.
