Israeli forces have established control over parts of southern Lebanon and announced plans for a security zone extending to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the border in some areas. Defense Minister Israel Katz said troops would destroy homes claimed to be used by militants and that residents would not return until northern Israel is deemed safe.

The military operation has displaced over one million Lebanese residents and killed more than 1,000 people, mostly outside the immediate border area. Israeli forces have conducted extensive airstrikes and launched what they describe as a limited ground operation against Hezbollah positions. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that "the Litani must be our new border with the state of Lebanon."

Israeli forces have bombed seven bridges over the Litani River and are engaged in heavy fighting in the town of Khiam, which would cut off southern Lebanon from the eastern Bekaa Valley if captured. The military says it needs the security zone to protect Israeli communities that have faced daily rocket attacks since Hezbollah joined the broader regional conflict following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

U.N. peacekeeping forces report that the bombing of bridges and ongoing clashes have hindered their operations and put personnel at risk. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of seeking to establish a buffer zone and pursue territorial expansion. The current situation follows a 2024 ceasefire that ended Israel's previous conflict with Hezbollah, after which Israeli forces had withdrawn from most of southern Lebanon except for five strategic hilltops.

Lebanon's government has proposed direct talks with Israel and taken action against Hezbollah, including criminalizing the group's activities. However, neither the United States nor Israel has shown interest in such negotiations while focused on the wider regional conflict. Displaced Lebanese residents remain uncertain about their ability to return home, with some villages completely evacuated despite residents' claims that no weapons or Hezbollah fighters were present.