Israeli Minister Calls for Southern Lebanon Annexation Amidst Conflict with Hezbollah

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that Israel should extend its border with Lebanon up to the Litani River as part of an ongoing military assault against Hezbollah. This is the most explicit statement from a senior Israeli official on seizing Lebanese territory.

The conflict escalated after Hezbollah fired missiles into Israel on March 2, prompting Israel to order all residents south of the Litani River to evacuate and bomb the area with air strikes. Lebanon’s authorities claim over 1,000 people have been killed and more than a million displaced due to the Israeli assault.

Smotrich told an Israeli radio program that the military campaign in Lebanon “needs to end with a different reality entirely,” suggesting Israel’s new border should be the Litani River. The Israeli military has limited its raids to areas near the border, despite Smotrich’s comments being beyond official policy.

Lebanon is counting on foreign powers to pressure Israel into ending the conflict through direct talks. Lebanon’s government has outlawed Hezbollah activity and seeks dialogue with Israel. International law prohibits attacking civilian infrastructure, and UN human rights chief has criticized Israel’s actions in Lebanon.