Israel Expands Military Bases and Occupation in Southern Lebanon

The Israeli military has expanded its presence in southern Lebanon, now occupying approximately 5% of Lebanese territory. The military has established four new bases, bringing its total to nine, as part of a strategy to create a security zone to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah rockets and drones. Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed forces to prepare for a long-term presence in the region.

This expansion persists despite a June ceasefire brokered by the United States and Iran. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reports the consolidation of Israeli positions and the use of civilian personnel for demolition and engineering activities. Israeli forces have pushed beyond their established security zone into villages such as Haris, Aita Al Jabal, and Al Mansouri. In Haris, remotely-operated bulldozers destroyed homes to depopulate neighborhoods, while in Al Mansouri, the military ordered total evacuations and blocked the Lebanese Armed Forces from entering.

Lebanese intelligence reports over 5,000 ceasefire violations, including air strikes and incursions. While Israel maintains that destroyed buildings served military purposes, human rights groups suggest the destruction of civilian infrastructure may constitute war crimes. Diplomatic efforts to create pilot zones for Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah disarmament have stalled. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has rejected these terms, characterizing them as a demand to surrender.