Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated yesterday that the Israel Defense Forces will occupy southern Lebanon up to the Litani River to establish a defensive buffer zone against Hezbollah threats.

Katz announced during a meeting with the military chief of staff, specifying that Israeli forces would control remaining bridges and the security zone extending roughly 30 kilometers north of the border to the Litani River, which meets the Mediterranean Sea. He compared the strategy to operations in Gaza, noting that troops are demolishing homes and infrastructure near the border described as "terrorist outposts" used by Hezbollah to create a forward defensive line and push threats away from Israeli communities.

The remarks followed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's call on Monday for Israel to extend its border to the Litani River, declaring on a radio program that the ongoing military campaign must end with a change in borders and that "the new Israeli border must be the Litani." Katz had previously warned that Lebanon could face loss of territory if it failed to disarm Hezbollah.

These statements come amid escalated ground operations in southern Lebanon, which began around March 16 after Hezbollah launched missiles into Israel on March 2, drawing Lebanon into the broader regional conflict. Since March 13, Israel has destroyed five bridges over the Litani River and accelerated the demolition of homes in border villages as part of efforts to neutralize Hezbollah infrastructure.

Lebanon's Health Ministry reports over 1,070 deaths from Israeli strikes since early March, including more than 120 children, 80 women, and 40 medics, with over one million people displaced. Israel maintains the campaign targets Hezbollah militants rather than civilians. Two Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon fighting, and yesterday a woman was killed near the border by missile fire, with two others wounded.

Hezbollah vowed to resist any occupation south of the Litani, labeling it an existential threat, with senior lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah stating, "We have no choice but to confront this aggression and cling to the land." The Lebanese government offered no immediate response, though residents expressed frustration over the lack of support. Lebanon declared Iran's ambassador persona non grata yesterday, ordering him to leave by Sunday amid broader expulsions of Iranian nationals.

United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described Katz's rhetoric as "very much concerning," adding it was the last thing the Lebanese people in the south would want. The UN human rights office has warned that some strikes may violate international law by targeting civilian infrastructure.

President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington and Tehran could reach an agreement soon to end the war, though Iran denied negotiations. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar praised Lebanon's actions against Iranian diplomats.