Litani River: Lebanon’s strategic watercourse and flashpoint in Israeli–Lebanese conflict
Lebanon has deployed its army to Zawtar al‑Gharbiya as part of a US‑brokered framework that ties phased Israeli withdrawals to Lebanese army control and verified removal of Hezbollah arms. Israel has continued strikes and presence near some villages, residents report damage, and the US is coordinating pilot‑zone implementation.
Israeli forces have ordered the evacuation of Mansouri and carried out strikes that injured at least eight people, displacing families who are waiting on the towns outskirts to learn whether they can return. Residents and local officials say Israel has demolished homes and burned farmland, and negotiators in Rome have not secured a withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Israel has stated it will maintain a long-term security presence in southern Lebanon as part of the U.S.-brokered framework to disarm Hezbollah and gradually withdraw Israeli forces. The Lebanese army will deploy in pilot zones, while negotiations in Rome aim to advance the agreement.
Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon have killed civilians and damaged infrastructure, including a hospital and homes in Nabatieh, Kfar Rumman and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, despite a US-brokered truce. The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands and renewed calls for Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli withdrawal.
Israeli strikes hit multiple Lebanese towns including Arab Salim and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, killing several civilians and injuring others. Israel maintains a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon and has stated the strikes are in response to Hezbollah actions. Ceasefire tensions persist as clashes continue and regional leaders call for de-escalation.
Israel has demolished more than 2km of Hezbollah tunnel infrastructure beneath the Ali al‑Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, using over 1,000 tonnes of explosives and creating a blast that registered as a 4.1‑magnitude tremor. The Israeli military says it has established operational control above and below ground and will hold a security zone while continuing strikes when necessary.
Leaders and senior officials gather in Paris for US-mediated talks on disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and replacing UNIFIL with a multinational force. The discussions come as Israel maintains a military footprint in Lebanon and faces ongoing strikes by Hezbollah, while Lebanon seeks to strengthen its army’s authority and sovereignty. A donor conference for Lebanese forces is expected later this year or early 2027.
The UN mission in southern Lebanon has begun preparations for a post-UNIFIL security order as the 2026 mandate nears its end. Paris-hosted discussions, French-Italian proposals for a multinational follow-on force, and US-backed frameworks aim to prevent a power vacuum as the Lebanese army and security forces assume greater regional duties.
UNIFIL faces a year-end withdrawal as Lebanon strengthens its army deployments in the south. Israeli strikes, Lebanese army positions, and Deir Mimas clashes shape a rapidly evolving security picture amid international talks on a donor conference and future peacekeeping arrangements.
Israeli and Hezbollah-linked activities in the Lebanon-Syria border region have intensified following a recent surge in attacks. Lebanese authorities report casualties and a series of strikes, with Israel asserting it is targeting operatives believed to pose threats from southern Syria to Israeli forces. The situation has prompted ongoing tension along the border.
Satellite imagery and on-ground reporting show widespread destruction in southern Lebanon as fighting with Hezbollah continues. Israeli demolition of villages, tunnels, and infrastructure aims to neutralize threats near the border, with thousands displaced and many towns uninhabitable even after a ceasefire. The ceasefire ends active combat but leaves a permanently altered landscape and demographic shifts.
Israel has warned it will seize further southern Lebanon territory and evacuate Beirut’s Dahieh district if Hezbollah aligns with Iran in an attack on Israel. The remarks come amid rising tensions as Hezbollah eyes a broader confrontation, with Israel preparing a potential ground offensive in the south.
UNIFIL’s mandate in southern Lebanon is due to expire at end-2026. Lebanon has pressed for a one-year extension; France, Italy and EU partners are weighing a successor arrangement as tensions linger along the Blue Line. The UN and Lebanon stress the need for continued monitoring, humanitarian support and stability as the drawdown proceeds.
International talks amid the planned expiry of UNIFIL’s mandate have intensified efforts to secure the south of Lebanon. Israel maintains a border presence, while Lebanon seeks disarmament of Hezbollah and a stable security framework. France and Qatar are coordinating with Beirut and Washington to prevent a security vacuum as the region braces for changes on the ground.
Explosives linked to Hezbollah have been seized in the Bekaa region, with Lebanese authorities probing two suspects. The incident has intensified pressure between Beirut and Washington over Hezbollah’s disarmament, while U.S. officials urge Lebanon not to return the materials.
Israel has signaled it will push for a withdrawal from southern Lebanon while urging disarmament of Hezbollah. US-mediated talks on a framework to end fighting have stalled, with Lebanon and Israel trading warnings over possible renewed hostilities. The situation remains tense as both sides press for security guarantees and regional stability.