Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Tuesday that the army intends to establish a security zone inside southern Lebanon and maintain control over territory up to the Litani River once the current operations conclude.

Speaking after a high-level security assessment, Katz said the move is designed to protect communities in northern Israel and neutralize threats posed by Hezbollah.

“At the end of the operation, the Israeli army will be positioned in a security area inside Lebanon and will have control over the entire sector up to the Litani,” Katz said, describing the military presence as a defensive line against anti-tank missiles and a means to ensure long-term security.

Katz added that the return of more than 600,000 Lebanese civilians who were displaced northward would be prohibited until Israel is satisfied that northern communities are safe. He further indicated that homes in Lebanese villages near the border would be demolished, citing the models used in Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza, to remove potential threats.

“The maneuvering forces are entering villages with full force, clearing them of Hezbollah operatives and destroying terrorist infrastructure,” Katz said, noting that the Israeli army continues to target incoming fire from other areas in Lebanon and plans to intensify such operations.

The defense minister framed the campaign as part of a broader effort to reduce Iranian influence in the region.

“We are determined to separate Lebanon from the Iranian sphere and to uproot Hezbollah’s threat capability,” Katz said, calling the operation an effort to enforce strict control and achieve deterrence similar to Israel’s posture in Syria and Gaza.

Katz stressed that the operation’s overriding objective is the protection of northern Israeli residents.

“The Israeli army will defend communities from within enemy territory. We promised to protect the north, and that is exactly what we will do,” he said.

According to Katz, the planned security zone will also include the remaining bridges across the Litani River, affirming that Israeli forces will continue to target Hezbollah’s elite Radwan units and destroy weapons stockpiles in the area.