Israeli minister calls for Lebanon annexation as attacks escalate
Senior Israeli official calls for extending border into southern Lebanon amid ongoing airstrikes, displacement and rising civilian casualties
TEL AVIV, Israel (MNTV) — A far-right Israeli cabinet minister has openly pushed for the annexation of large parts of southern Lebanon, as Israeli forces escalate a devastating campaign of airstrikes and ground assaults across the region.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for Israel’s border to be extended to the Litani River, deep inside Lebanese territory, in one of the clearest declarations yet of expansionist intent by a senior Israeli official.
His remarks reinforce growing concerns that the ongoing military offensive is not merely about security but about territorial acquisition.
The call comes amid relentless Israeli bombardment targeting bridges, roads, and densely populated residential areas.
Lebanese authorities report that more than 1,000 people have been killed, while over a million have been forcibly displaced, highlighting the scale of destruction inflicted on civilians.
Israel has issued sweeping evacuation orders for areas south of the Litani River, effectively emptying entire regions under the justification of countering Hezbollah.
However, the widespread destruction of infrastructure and mass displacement point to a broader strategy aimed at reshaping the area both demographically and geographically.
Smotrich’s insistence that the war must produce a “new reality,” including redrawn borders, has been widely condemned as a clear violation of international law and Lebanese sovereignty.
His proposal echoes a long-standing pattern of Israeli expansion, raising fears of renewed occupation similar to the 1982–2000 period, which left lasting damage across southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces have also systematically targeted critical infrastructure, severing key routes linking southern Lebanon to the rest of the country. This destruction has severely disrupted civilian movement and access to essential supplies, deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Local officials warn that entire communities are being cut off, with worsening shortages of electricity, water, and fuel. Civilians attempting to transport goods increasingly rely on military escorts while navigating areas under continuous attack.
International law experts and human rights organizations have raised alarm over the scale and nature of Israel’s actions, warning that the targeting of civilian infrastructure and large-scale forced displacement could constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Despite the escalation, Lebanese authorities have expressed willingness to pursue diplomatic solutions, calling for international pressure to halt the offensive and indicating openness to negotiations.
However, Israeli leadership has not formally distanced itself from Smotrich’s remarks, while signals from within the government suggest that expansionist ambitions are gaining traction.
As the conflict intensifies alongside the broader US-Israel war on Iran, Lebanon is being drawn deeper into a widening crisis, increasingly defined by destruction, displacement, and the threat of long-term instability.
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