IDF Crosses Litani River, Seizes Control of Southern Lebanon Buffer Zone
Updated
Updated · Haaretz · May 12
IDF Crosses Litani River, Seizes Control of Southern Lebanon Buffer Zone
4 articles · Updated · Haaretz · May 12
Israeli forces crossed the Litani River in recent days and gained operational control of the area, with the IDF saying troops remain inside the security buffer zone set by April's Israel-Lebanon cease-fire.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected any discussion of disarmament in U.S.-mediated Lebanon-Israel talks, calling the group's weapons an internal Lebanese matter and warning it would keep fighting Israel.
Low-intensity clashes have continued despite the cease-fire, complicating U.S.-backed efforts to turn April's rare talks into a broader agreement.
Washington is due to host another round of talks on Thursday after the truce was extended by 3 weeks in late April following a White House meeting.
With multiple cease-fires on the brink of collapse, is a wider regional war in the Middle East now inevitable?
As Israel’s government faces internal collapse, can it sustain its military campaigns on multiple fronts?
How are Hezbollah's new precision drones challenging Israel's long-held military and technological dominance?
The March 2026 Lebanon Crisis: Israel’s Buffer Zone, 1.2 Million Displaced, and the Deepening Humanitarian Catastrophe
Overview
The March 2026 offensive began after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks in response to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader. Israel answered with heavy airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, followed by a ground invasion where IDF troops crossed the Litani River. This led to the creation of a large buffer zone in southern Lebanon, extending Israeli control up to 30 kilometers north of the border. The operation caused widespread destruction, mass displacement, and severe humanitarian consequences, as communities were cut off and critical infrastructure was destroyed, making aid delivery and civilian return extremely difficult.