ALBAWABA- Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for extending Israel’s northern border deep into Lebanon to the Litani River, marking the most explicit territorial proposal by a senior Israeli official since the current escalation began.
Speaking on Israeli radio, Smotrich said, “The new Israeli border must be the Litani,” adding that ongoing military operations against Hezbollah should result in “a completely different reality,” including a redefinition of Israel’s frontiers. He likened the approach to Israeli control in parts of Gaza.
His remarks come as Israeli forces intensify operations across southern Lebanon. The Israeli Air Force has struck multiple bridges over the Litani River in recent days, including the strategic Qasmiya Bridge along the coastal highway north of Tyre, disrupting key crossings that Israeli officials say are used by Hezbollah to move fighters and weapons.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered the destruction of all Litani crossings linked to “terrorist activity,” alongside accelerated demolitions of homes in frontline border villages. Katz said operations in Rafah and Beit Hanoun were serving as a model for the campaign.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the strikes, warning they could signal preparations for a ground invasion and accusing Israel of violating Lebanese sovereignty. He also said the destruction of bridges is obstructing humanitarian access and isolating southern communities.
Clashes continued on Monday across several areas in southern Lebanon, including Khiam, Taybeh, and Naqoura. Hezbollah said it had targeted Israeli troops and positions, while the Israeli military reported ongoing ground operations aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure, with several soldiers lightly wounded.
The fighting is part of a broader regional escalation linked to the Israel-Iran confrontation. Since early March, more than 1,000 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon, with over one million displaced. Israeli strikes have hit infrastructure and Hezbollah-linked sites, while evacuation orders have been issued across large areas south of the Litani River.
