Israeli forces have established a “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, marking the first time such a designation has been used there since a similar measure was applied in Gaza.
The Israeli military stated that over the previous 24 hours, its forces operating south of the line identified individuals approaching from the north who posed an immediate threat, justifying actions under self-defense despite an ongoing 10-day ceasefire.
This development comes after the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect on Thursday, following more than 40 days of fighting that saw Hezbollah resume rocket and drone attacks on Israel.
The military’s actions in southern Lebanon mirror its approach in Gaza, where a “yellow line” has divided the territory since October, with Israeli forces routinely firing on anyone approaching the line and demolishing homes in the controlled zone.
According to Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from the occupied West Bank, the move represents a continuation of the “Gazafication” of southern Lebanon, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Khan stating that villages are being demolished based on models used in Beit Hanoon, and Rafah.
Odeh added that the defense minister has equated Shia villages with Hezbollah infrastructure, paralleling the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza as equivalent to Hamas.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli artillery struck the towns of Beit Leif, Qantara, and Touline on Saturday, while home demolitions continued across several areas in southern Lebanon.
The military maintains that actions taken in self-defense to remove immediate threats are not restricted by the ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem countered that the ceasefire cannot continue unless both sides uphold it, emphasizing that a truce means a complete cessation of all hostilities.
For more on this story, see Smotrich Calls for Israel-Lebanon Border to Move to Litani River.
Satellite imagery analyzed by the BBC reveals that over 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon, including 820,000 from the south, with many fleeing northward or into Syria according to UN OCHA figures.
In the village of Ayta ash-Shab, Israeli reporters were allowed into the newly established security zone for the first time since hostilities escalated, escorted by IDF forces in Eitan armored personnel carriers.
The IDF avoids referring to the area as a “security zone,” instead calling it a “forward defense area” to distance the current operation from the controversial 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon between 1982 and 2000, during which 675 Israeli troops were killed.
Colonel Arik Moyal of the Nahal Infantry Brigade stated that the purpose of the area is to prevent terrorist infiltration and the presence of terror infrastructure that could threaten Israeli border communities such as Shtula and Zarit.
Moyal emphasized that the goal is to ensure mothers in border communities can take their children to kindergarten safely without fear of attack.
The boundaries of the current zone closely resemble those held by Israel between 1985 and 2000, as the terrain of southern Lebanon has remained largely unchanged over the past 26 years.
Five IDF divisions, totaling tens of thousands of troops, are currently stationed in the new forward defense area.
What is the legal basis for Israel’s actions in southern Lebanon during the ceasefire?
The Israeli military maintains that its actions in southern Lebanon are justified under self-defense and are not restricted by the ceasefire, claiming they respond to immediate threats from individuals approaching its forces.
How does the current Israeli operation in southern Lebanon compare to its past occupation of the area?
The current operation reestablishes a security zone with boundaries similar to those held between 1985 and 2000, but Israeli commanders state it will not carry the same dangers as the previous 18-year occupation that resulted in 675 Israeli troop deaths.
What humanitarian impact has the conflict in southern Lebanon had on the civilian population?
Over 1.2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon, including 820,000 from the south, with many fleeing to areas further north or into Syria according to UN OCHA figures cited by the BBC.
