Israel Pledges to Demolish Border Homes, Declares Defense Minister
On March 31, Defence Minister Israel Katz restated plans to raze homes in Lebanese villages near the border. He said Israel pledges to demolish border homes and create a buffer zone similar to operations in Gaza.
Security zone proposal
Katz said Israeli forces would hold territory up to the Litani River. He described the move as a defensive line against anti-tank missiles.
The Litani meets the Mediterranean about 30 km north of Israel’s border. The land between the river and the border covers nearly a tenth of Lebanon’s territory.
Objectives and military claims
The minister said troops will target Hezbollah’s Radwan elite and destroy weapons caches. He added that bridges on the Litani would fall under Israeli control.
Senior Israeli officers said troops searched homes in southern Lebanon. They argue some houses were used to store weapons, a claim Hezbollah denies.
Displacement and casualty figures
Authorities reported large-scale displacement since March 2. More than 1.2 million people were recorded displaced across Lebanon.
About 600,000 people who fled southern areas were told they could not yet return. Lebanese health officials put the death toll from strikes at about 1,268.
Combat intensity
Israeli spokespeople said Hezbollah fired nearly 5,000 drones, rockets and missiles during the fighting. Israeli forces launched fresh strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut.
Sources reported over 400 Hezbollah fighters killed. Israel said ten of its soldiers died in clashes.
Property destruction and legal concerns
Katz vowed that villages near the border would be cleared, citing the Rafah and Beit Hanoun approaches in Gaza. He framed demolitions as a way to remove persistent threats.
Tom Dannenbaum, a law professor at Stanford, warned that razing homes must meet strict necessity tests. He said wholesale destruction and long-term displacement could violate laws of war.
International response
European nations urged Israel to avoid further escalation. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called any occupation of Lebanese land a breach of sovereignty.
Humanitarian and legal bodies voiced concern about mass displacement. Critics said the measures risked creating prolonged refugee situations.
Recent incidents
Military orders included evacuations in Beirut’s southern outskirts. A strike later destroyed several floors of an evacuated building.
Filmogaz.com will continue to monitor developments and report verified updates as they become available.
