Israel Declares Southern Lebanon Combat Zone and Intensifies Strikes
Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a massive military escalation in Lebanon, declaring all areas south of the Zahrani River combat zones and forcing mass civilian evacuations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a significant intensification of military operations against Hezbollah starting May 25, 2026, following a surge in fiber-optic kamikaze drone attacks that killed at least 11 Israeli soldiers. Netanyahu vowed to crush the militia, stating that Israel is at war and will not take its foot off the gas. This escalation occurred despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect on April 17.
The Israel Defense Forces expanded ground operations beyond the Yellow Line security boundary and launched waves of airstrikes targeting over 70 infrastructure sites, including command centers in the Bekaa Valley and Tyre. By May 27, Israel designated all areas south of the Zahrani River—approximately 14% of Lebanese territory—as combat zones. This blanket order forced the displacement of residents from the city of Nabatieh, Tyre, and roughly 300 villages, contributing to a total of over 1.6 million displaced persons across Lebanon.
Within Israel, far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir pressured the government for further escalation, with Smotrich advocating that ten buildings in Beirut should be demolished for every explosive drone launched. Meanwhile, Hezbollah responded with dozens of operations targeting Israeli tanks and military positions in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Israeli strikes have killed more than 3,200 people since March 2. While the U.S. administration supported Israel's right to confront threats, the Lebanese government continued preparations for direct military talks at the Pentagon and the U.S. State Department in late May and early June.
