Israel says it will take control of large buffer zone in southern Lebanon

Thousands of displaced Lebanese residents will not be allowed to return home until northern Israel is safe, he says.

A renewed and intense conflict has erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, centered around the strategic town of Khiam. Displaced residents, including Bassem Awada, Mohammed Al-Qreiss, and Ali Abdallah, now relocated to Hasbaya, recount enduring three wars and place their hope in Hezbollah. The militia's resistance is viewed as Lebanon's last defense in the absence of protection from the Lebanese army. Khiam is seen as a critical point due to its geographic location and potential to open access to the Bekaa region.

In southern Lebanon, civilians are increasingly trapped following the destruction of key bridges by Israeli airstrikes, including the critical Qasmiyeh bridge near Tyre. Destroyed on March 22 and bombed again the following day, the bridge was a vital passage for both evacuees and humanitarian aid. With seven bridges over the Litani River now demolished, southern Lebanon has become more isolated, leaving only an old coastal road as the remaining route to Beirut. Israel justifies the bombings as a means to stop Hezbollah's movement of arms, while over one million people have been displaced since hostilities resumed on March 2.