RealLifeLore

Why Israel is Trying to Conquer 10% of Lebanon

The current conflict in Lebanon, though overshadowed by events in Iran, threatens to permanently alter borders and has initiated a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah. Following a missile strike by the US and Israel against Iran, Hezbollah retaliated by firing rockets and drones into northern Israel, breaking a ceasefire established in late 2024. Israel has since conducted hundreds of airstrikes across Lebanon and launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon, aiming to push Hezbollah away from its border. A significant escalation occurred when Israel's defense minister stated the objective is to seize control of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River, a territory about 30 km deep, representing roughly 10% of Lebanon's sovereign land. This announcement was preceded by evacuation orders for approximately one million Lebanese residents from this area and the southern suburbs of Beirut, predominantly Shiite. This constitutes the largest forced displacement in Lebanon's modern history, affecting one in six people. Israel intends to occupy this territory indefinitely as a "buffer zone" until the threat from Hezbollah is eliminated, raising fears of a prolonged occupation or even annexation, reminiscent of Israel's two-decade occupation from 1982 to 2000.