Israel is using the “ceasefire” with Hezbollah to continue the Gazafication of southern Lebanon. It has now established a “Yellow Line” not unlike that in Gaza south of and roughly parallel to the Litani River, an area in which Israel is claiming control of 55 villages. Anyone attempting to cross it, such as civilians trying to return to their homes, is at risk of being shot as a “terrorist threat.” The IDF has already struck individuals in several areas of southern Lebanon immediately after detecting them, in order to “eliminate the threat,” stressing that it is authorized to act against threats despite the ceasefire, reports Asharq Al-Awsat. It adds that the Yellow Line “is not an internationally recognized boundary but a security measure imposed by Israel that extends beyond the Blue Line and is used to impose facts on the ground, and could quickly trigger clashes.”
A security source told Asharq that Israeli violations of the ceasefire are not limited to artillery shelling, drone strikes, or clashes with Hezbollah fighters, but also include the deliberate booby-trapping and complete demolition of homes under the pretext of destroying the group’s infrastructure.
Military and security expert Brig. Gen. Fadi Daoud told Asharq that Israeli operations south of the Litani River are proceeding along two parallel tracks aimed at establishing a new reality on the ground. The first track involves efforts by the Israeli army to entrench its presence in villages it has taken control of, alongside continuing a policy of widespread destruction similar to what it previously carried out in Gaza.
