Israel will establish a long-term military occupation of a part of southern Lebanon by December 31, 2026.

Despite another 45-day ceasefire extension, violence persists with Israeli strikes killing hundreds more civilians and Hezbollah increasingly using advanced FPV drones, leading to new Israeli evacuation orders for southern Lebanese villages. The IDF now claims 60% of Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon is destroyed, explicitly detailing a "rubble doctrine" and "Forward Defense Line" strategy, with an IDF spokesperson affirming continued military activity as long as threats to northern Israel persist.

Last updated: May 20, 2026, 07:20 PM UTC