Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to establish a buffer zone in southern Lebanon extending to the Litani River following the conclusion of the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah. The announcement comes as Israel maintains its military operations in the region.

Katz also stated that Israeli forces will demolish houses in Lebanese villages located near the Israeli border. The defense minister indicated that Israel intends to maintain control over portions of southern Lebanon after the war with Hezbollah ends, though specific timelines for these actions were not provided.

Separately, the United Kingdom announced it will deploy additional military personnel and air defense systems to countries in the Middle East region. UK Defense Secretary confirmed that more troops will be sent to operate the air defense equipment being provided to regional allies.

The Litani River, located approximately 30 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, has historically served as a strategic boundary in previous conflicts. UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, called for the area south of the Litani to be free of armed personnel other than Lebanese government forces and UN peacekeepers.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has stated that Israel's death penalty law violates international legal standards, though this appears to be a separate development from the current military operations in Lebanon.