Israel Defense Minister Threatens Wider Lebanon Occupation

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to occupy additional areas in southern Lebanon if Hezbollah joins Iran in any attack against Israel, vowing to deliver a severe blow to the group. Katz stated that areas including Nabatieh and the Litani River would become part of Israel's "permanent security zone," adding that the Israeli military is prepared for a ground incursion. He also warned that Beirut's southern suburbs would be evacuated and its military infrastructure targeted, potentially displacing over a million Lebanese citizens within Lebanon. Katz further threatened to assassinate Hezbollah's Deputy Secretary-General Naaim Qassem, drawing a parallel to the killing of Hassan Nasrallah.

These remarks were made during Katz's tour of southern Lebanon, accompanied by the commander of the Northern Region and other officers. He received briefings on ongoing operations and repeated violations of the fragile ceasefire in southern Lebanon, despite a framework agreement with Beirut. Katz reiterated that Israel would not withdraw from its "security areas." He emphasized that if Hezbollah joins Iran in an attack, it will face a harsh response and lose more territory in southern Lebanon, specifically mentioning Nabatieh and the Litani River, which would be incorporated into Israel's permanent security zone. The Israeli military, he said, is ready for this scenario.

Katz elaborated that all residents up to the Al-Ouali and Al-Zahrani rivers to the north would be evacuated to allow for a strong strike against "terrorist" infrastructure in the region and to remove the drone threat from northern Israeli towns. He reiterated that Beirut's southern suburbs would also be evacuated and their "terrorist" infrastructure targeted, leading to over a million Lebanese becoming displaced.