Eighteen right-wing Israeli lawmakers have demanded the military expand plans to destroy villages along the Lebanese border and ensure the “complete evacuation” of residents south of the Litani River, as Israeli air strikes killed at least 11 people across Lebanon on Monday.
In a letter addressed to the Israeli security cabinet on Sunday, the legislators—including members of the ruling Likud party—urged the establishment of a “new security border” at the Litani River and beyond. The group argued that “full occupation and total control” of the territory would provide the Lebanese government with the necessary leverage to expel Iran and its proxies, potentially leading to “long-term quiet.”
The political demands coincide with a surge in military activity. Lebanese state media reported that Israeli air strikes on Monday killed four people in the town of Abba after a residential and commercial building was targeted. Three people were killed in a strike on the hills of Ain Saada, while two others died in Mashghara.
In the town of Haris, the Lebanese Ministry of Health’s emergency operations centre reported that Israeli forces directly targeted a team of paramedics from the Health Authority, killing two and seriously injuring a third. Additional strikes and heavy artillery shelling were reported in Qana, Toul, Zoutar al-Sharqiya, Harouf, and the Tyre-Naqoura road, where three people were wounded in a strike on a vehicle.
The MPs’ proposal reflects recent rhetoric from Defence Minister Israel Katz, who stated that Israel would maintain security control over the Litani region and prevent the return of approximately 600,000 displaced Lebanese citizens until the security of northern Israel is guaranteed. Katz previously indicated that the military intends to destroy border villages following the “model of Rafah and Khan Younis” in Gaza to eliminate threats to Israeli communities.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has stated that the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure without a clear military necessity is a violation of international law. An Israeli military official told CNN on Friday that the army is currently considering more limited plans to destroy civilian infrastructure within two to three kilometres of the border to create a buffer zone.
Hezbollah said in a statement on Monday that it had targeted seven gatherings of Israeli soldiers in the town of Einata. This follows an Israeli military announcement late last week that a soldier from the “Maglan” unit was killed and an officer seriously injured during clashes in southern Lebanon. Israeli media reports indicate that 11 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon since the escalation began on March 2.
The conflict intensified on March 2 after Hezbollah launched drone attacks on Israeli positions, which the group described as retaliation for the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since that date, the cumulative death toll in Lebanon has risen to 1,422, with 4,294 wounded. Daily casualty figures through Saturday recorded 54 deaths and 156 injuries over a 24-hour period.
