Israel to ‘control’ southern Lebanon as Smotrich urges border shift to Litani River

Israel to ‘control’ southern Lebanon as Smotrich urges border shift to Litani River Submitted by Mera Aladam on Tue, 03/24/2026 - 08:03 Ministers outline plans for deep 'security zone' as strikes escalate and invasion fears mount Israeli tanks manoeuvre on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon boundary in northern Israel, 15 March 2026 (Reuters/Shir Torem) Off Israel ’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said on Tuesday that the army plans to “control” southern Lebanon , a day after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the border to be redrawn at the Litani River. Katz said hundreds of thousands of Lebanese civilians forced to flee the south would not be allowed to return until “security” for residents of northern Israel is “ensured”. He added that Israel would control a “security zone up to the Litani”.