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Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon (2026)

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For the previous Security Zone, see Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon (1982–2000).
Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon
רְצוּעַת הַבִּיטָּחוֹן
Israeli-occupied territory of Lebanon
Flag of Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon
Flag
  Israel
  Israeli occupied Golan Heights
  Lebanon
  Lebanese territory under Israeli control
  Syria
  Litani River
  Yellow Line

(For an up-to-date, interactive, detailed map of the current military situation, see here.)
Declared2026 Lebanon War
Government
 • Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu
 • PresidentIsaac Herzog

On 16 March 2026, Israel began a ground invasion in Lebanon, as part of the 2026 Lebanon war, Hezbollah–Israel conflict, and broader Middle Eastern crisis.[1][2][3][4] While Israel had already been occupying some pieces of Lebanese territory,[a] the Israeli Defense Forces expanded its military occupation within Lebanon to a total of 570–600 square kilometers (220–232 sq mi) by the 2026 Israel–Lebanon temporary ceasefire.[2][10]

Background

On 28 February 2026, Israel and the United States launched a war against Iran.[11][12] With Israel having violated the November 2024 Israel–Lebanon ceasefire agreement on a near-daily basis[13] and Iran being Hezbollah's primary backer,[14] the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei moved the militant group to resume rocket strikes on Israel on 2 March.[15] The Israeli Air Force quickly responded with airstrikes across much of Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, thus initiating the Lebanon war.

The 2026 occupation marks the seventh occupation of Lebanon by Israel. Other such occupations include during the 1948–1949 Arab–Israeli War,[16] the annexation of Shebaa Farms since the Six-Day War in 1967,[17][18] the 1978 South Lebanon conflict, the 1982–2000 occupation, the 2006 Lebanon War, and the 2024 Lebanon war.[19][20][21]

Occupation

By 16 March, the Israeli Ground Forces expanded the war with a ground invasion, while air units continued to destroy civilian infrastructure linking the south from the rest of Lebanon.[22] On 24 March, the Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz declared that Israel would demolish Lebanese border villages and permanently occupy Lebanese territory up to the Litani River.[23]

The Israeli occupation of Lebanon has resulted in the forced expulsion of more than 1.2 million Lebanese civilians (>20% of the country's population), as Israel prohibits them from returning "until security is guaranteed for the residents of the north [of Israel]."[24][25][26] Israel has issued evacuation orders over about 2,000 square kilometers (772 sq mi) of Lebanese territory south of the Zahrani River,[26] with further orders in southern Beirut.[27]

On 15 June 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces will continue to occupy southern Lebanon, stating that, "We will stay in the Lebanon security buffer zone for as long as necessary."[28]

On 24 June 2026, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz says Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if "the United States demands it", adding that "200,000 residents will not return" to their homes.[29]

Life under occupation

Despite Israeli requests to evacuate most of the villages, towns and cities occupied by the Israeli Defense Forces, some citizens in areas which were non-Shia-majority were allowed to stay in their residences,[30] including Christian, Druze and Sunni inhabitated areas. Life under occupation has been characterized by arrests, searches, strict curfews and restricted freedom of movement.[30][31] Even in authorized villages and towns the population suffered from food shortages, electricity shortage and limited healthcare accessibility.[32][33]

Despite harsh economic, social and material conditions in permitted areas, people continued to attend religious infrastructures, flock their sheep and attend school.[34]

According to the New York Times, Israel contacted local Christian and Druze in private and pressured them to expel Shiite citizens from their towns.[35]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Including Shebaa Farms since 1967[5] and some 10 further square kilometers (3.9 sq mi) since 2024.[6][7][8][9]

References

  1. ^ "Israel says will take 'control' of security zone in south Lebanon". France 24. 2026-03-24. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  2. ^ a b Dziadosz, Alexander; Osseiran, Nazih; Cartier, Catherine (May 28, 2026). "How Israel has emptied southern Lebanon far beyond the front lines". Reuters.
  3. ^ Christou, William; Swan, Lucy; Wilson, Heidi; Scruton, Paul (2026-05-11). "Vision of destruction: Israel's assault on southern Lebanon in video, maps and charts". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  4. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (16 March 2026). "IDF begins 'targeted ground operation' to expand south Lebanon buffer against Hezbollah". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  5. ^ Kaufman, Asher (2002). "Who Owns the Shebaa Farms? Chronicle of a Territorial Dispute". Middle East Journal. 56 (4): 576–595. ISSN 0026-3141.
  6. ^ Ardiel, Kandice (17 November 2025). "GENEVA / UNIFIL INCIDENT INTERVIEW". United Nations.
  7. ^ "Nowhere to return: Israel's extensive destruction of Southern Lebanon". Amnesty International. 2025-08-26. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  8. ^ Nashed, Mat; Salhani, Justin. "Israel refuses to fully withdraw from Lebanon: Here's what to know". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  9. ^ "Lebanon demands full Israeli troop withdrawal from south". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  10. ^ Unit, Al Jazeera Investigative. "Israel's occupation of Gaza, Lebanon, Syria extends beyond what maps show". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  11. ^ "Hezbollah Claims Rocket, Drone Strike On Israeli Missile Defence Site Near Haifa". Bernama. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  12. ^ "Hezbollah says targeted 3 Israeli bases after strikes on Lebanon". France 24. AFP. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  13. ^ Christou, William; Tondo, Lorenzo (18 March 2026). "Israel faces stiff Hezbollah resistance as it attempts to push deeper into Lebanon". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  14. ^ "What Is Hezbollah?". Council on Foreign Relations. 2026-04-17. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  15. ^ Press, The Associated (2026-03-02). "Hezbollah strikes Israel as American and Israeli planes pound Iran". NPR. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  16. ^ Rubinstein, Danny (August 4, 2006). "The Seven Lost Villages". Haaretz.
  17. ^ Kaufman, Asher (2002). "Who Owns the Shebaa Farms? Chronicle of a Territorial Dispute". Middle East Journal. 56 (4): 576–595. ISSN 0026-3141.
  18. ^ Powers, Gerard F. (November 2006). "The Israel-Hezbollah Conflict and the Shebaa Farms" (PDF). The Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. University of Notre Dame.
  19. ^ Bigg, Matthew Mpoke (2024-10-01). "Israel Has Invaded Lebanon Three Times Before. Here's a Closer Look". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  20. ^ Rebeiz, Mireille (2026-04-08). "Israeli threats to occupy or annex south Lebanon dust off a decades-old playbook". The Conversation. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  21. ^ "Israel's long history of incursions and invasions in Lebanon". Reuters. October 1, 2024.
  22. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (16 March 2026). "IDF begins 'targeted ground operation' to expand south Lebanon buffer against Hezbollah". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  23. ^ "Lebanon condemns Israel's 'clear intention' to impose new occupation of its territory". France 24. 31 March 2026.
  24. ^ "Israel to control large buffer zone in southern Lebanon, its defence minister says". www.bbc.com. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  25. ^ Chehayeb, Kareem; Harb, Malak (14 March 2026). "War has already displaced nearly a million Lebanese. Aid groups warn of a humanitarian crisis". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  26. ^ a b "Israel declares new swathe of Lebanon 'a combat zone,' warns residents to leave". Reuters. May 27, 2026.
  27. ^ Unit, Al Jazeera Investigative. "Israel's occupation of Gaza, Lebanon, Syria extends beyond what maps show". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  28. ^ "Netanyahu says Israel won't leave occupied land in Lebanon". Al Jazeera. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 16 June 2026.
  29. ^ "Israel's defence minister says military will not withdraw from Lebanon, even if US demands it". Al Jazeera. 24 June 2026. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  30. ^ a b Christou, William (2026-05-27). "'It's the West Bank': Lebanese villagers describe life inside Israel's 'yellow line'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  31. ^ "'We just want to stay home': A Lebanese village under Israeli occupation". Los Angeles Times. 2026-04-07. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  32. ^ Fraze, Barb (2026-04-14). "Christian Villages Isolated in Southern Lebanon". CNEWA Canada (in Catalan). Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  33. ^ "2 Christian communities navigate life in southern Lebanon, in photos". AP News. 2026-06-16. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  34. ^ "2 Christian communities navigate life in southern Lebanon, in photos". AP News. 2026-06-16. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  35. ^ Goldbaum, David GuttenfelderChristina; Lebanon, who covers; Guttenfelder, David; East, a Times photographer with extensive experience in the Middle; Kawkaba, traveled to; Qamha, Abou; Hasbaya; Israel, near the border with; Article, To Report This (2026-04-01). "Israel's Message to a Broad Swath of Lebanon: Shiites Must Go". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
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