politics
March 24, 2026
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls for annexation of southern Lebanon
Israel should seize Lebanese territory up to the Litani River located some 40 kilometers from the border, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said
TL;DR
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that Israel should seize territory up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
- He believes the current campaign against Hezbollah should result in a change of Israel's borders.
- Israel launched a military campaign against Hezbollah in early March after retaliatory strikes on Israel.
- The Israeli military has ordered residents in southern Lebanon south of the Litani to leave.
- Lebanese authorities report over 880 deaths and more than 2,000 injured from Israeli strikes.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has not commented; Defense Minister Israel Katz previously suggested Lebanon could lose territory if Hezbollah is not disarmed.
- The Israeli military announced plans to expand ground and air operations in southern Lebanon.
- A Lebanese official expects foreign nations to pressure Israel to halt its campaign, with French President Emmanuel Macron condemning Israel's actions.
- Israel previously occupied southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000.
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