Israel says it will keep control over part of southern Lebanon after war with Hezbollah ends

Israel says it will keep control over part of southern Lebanon after war with Hezbollah ends 3 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Yolande Knell , Middle East correspondent, Jerusalem and Alys Davies AFP via Israel's defence minister has said a buffer zone will be set up inside southern Lebanon and that Israel will keep security control over a swathe of the territory even after the end of the current war against the armed group Hezbollah. Israel Katz said the area to be occupied would go up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon - about 30km (18.6 miles) from the border with Israel. He also said all houses in Lebanese villages near the Israeli border would be demolished. Lebanon's Defence Minister Maj Gen Michel Menassa said Katz's remarks reflected "a clear intention to impose a new occupation of Lebanese territory". European nations, Canada and the UN also criticised Israel's announcement. Israel sent ground troops into southern Lebanon on 2 March and has also been launching broad strikes across the country. The action was taken after Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for Israel's assassination of Iran's supreme leader in late February, at the start of the war with Iran. Israel was also carrying out near-daily strikes on Hezbollah before that despite a ceasefire that was agreed in 2024. Since early March, at least 1,238 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese health ministry, including at least 124 children. …