Israel orders IDF to escalate demolitions in southern Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to escalate the destruction of what the military describes as Hezbollah infrastructure across southern Lebanon. This directive follows previous orders for the IDF to prepare for a long-term presence in the occupied region. The operations involve heavy artillery and the use of incendiary white phosphorus, leading to the destruction of numerous villages and civilian infrastructure in Shi’ite-populated areas.

In addition to operations in Lebanon, Katz announced that Israel intends to maintain its military presence in the security zone on Mount Hermon in southern Syria for as long as jihadist threats persist. These developments suggest a sustained military posture in both southern Lebanon and southern Syria, with market indicators showing a low probability of Israeli forces withdrawing from beyond the Litani River by the end of the year.