Israeli Military Maps New Deployment Line in Lebanon
The Israeli military published a map on Sunday depicting its new deployment line inside Lebanon, marking dozens of mostly abandoned Lebanese villages under its control. This move comes days after the ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-backed ceasefire on Thursday following direct talks between the two nations for the first time in decades on April 14. The deal aims to facilitate broader US-Iran negotiations while Israeli forces maintain positions deep inside southern Lebanon.
The deployment line, stretching from the border into Lebanese territory, is 5-10 km deep and is intended to create a buffer zone. Israel has destroyed several villages in the area, stating that its aim is to protect northern Israeli towns from Hezbollah attacks.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said homes on the border exploited by Hezbollah would be demolished, as well as any structure threatening soldiers or suspected of containing explosives.
Lebanon was drawn into the conflict on March 2 when Hezbollah opened fire in support of Tehran. The Israeli offensive that followed has killed over 2,100 people and forced more than 1.2 million to flee, according to Lebanese authorities. At least 400 fighters from Hezbollah have been reported dead by the end of March.
Hezbollah’s attacks with hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel have resulted in two civilian deaths in Israel and 15 Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon since the conflict began.