Israel expands military operations and security zone in southern Lebanon

Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon have expanded beyond the immediate border strip, raising questions regarding the actual extent of military deployment. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has referenced a security area of approximately 700 square kilometers, though field data suggests control varies between direct troop presence, mobile incursions, and fire-based control over wider areas.

Military analysts note that this security belt is not a uniform strip of equal depth. Due to terrain and movement axes, the depth of control fluctuates. In some sectors, Israeli forces and vehicles are directly deployed, while in others, areas remain under aerial surveillance or within firing range, allowing for operations without a permanent troop presence.

Security expert Dr. Riad Kahwagi stated that Israel views the Golan and Lebanon as a single front stretching from Mount Hermon to the Mediterranean coast. He noted that the geographic scope of the security belt is no longer strictly limited to the area south of the Litani River, extending north of it in certain locations, such as the Al-Matla region, due to the short distance between the border and the river in those sectors.

On the ground, recent actions include drone strikes in Kfar Tibnit, explosions in Al-Mansouri, and the burning of forests in Al-Qantara. Additionally, the ongoing conflict has disrupted the academic year for students in border villages like Al-Arkoub, facing rising transportation costs and security risks.