Israeli troops will control a large swathe of southern Lebanon as part of their campaign against Hezbollah, Defence Minister Israel Katz says. Katz stated that troops would establish a security zone up to the Litani River, about 30km from the Lebanon-Israel border, and displaced residents would not be allowed back until northern Israel was declared safe. He mentioned that five bridges used by Hezbollah for the passage of terrorists and weapons had been destroyed. This latest conflict escalation came after Iranian-backed Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel, reportedly in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, alongside daily Israeli assaults in Lebanon that have persisted despite a 2024 ceasefire. Over 1,000 deaths, including numerous children and healthcare workers, have been reported in Lebanon, raising humanitarian concerns as more than a million have been displaced. Israel maintains that the objective is to protect its northern communities from Hezbollah's attacks, which predominantly operate from southern Lebanon, a region that includes the Shia Muslim community, Hezbollah's main support base. The Israeli government has articulated that returning the displaced residents will only be permissible when security can be guaranteed for the residents of northern Israel. Meanwhile, Lebanon's government has condemned these Israeli actions as collective punishment against civilians. Katz insisted that military actions aimed at a clear principle of leveraging force against terrorism while displacing civilian populations is necessary for ensuring safety for northern Israeli residents.