Israel and Lebanon remain locked in hostilities despite agreeing to a 10-day truce brokered by the United States. Israel has unilaterally designated a zone in southern Lebanon and barred residents from accessing it, raising concerns over whether face-to-face negotiations scheduled for the 23rd will proceed.
According to local media including Arab News on the 20th (local time), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted a map on X (formerly Twitter) on the 19th marking occupied territory in red, which includes 21 villages in southern Lebanon. The IDF warned that "residents must not move into the area between the line (red line) and the border," also prohibiting return and access to more than 50 villages outside the occupied territory and the area around the Litani River.
The Litani River lies within Lebanese territory, far north of the area currently occupied by Israel. In effect, Israel has asserted authority over Lebanese land. The Litani River, which cuts across southern Lebanon, has served as a de facto boundary during years of conflict between the two countries. The IDF has deployed five divisions to conduct operations in southern Lebanon, citing the need to dismantle Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure and eliminate direct threats to communities in northern Israel. In the long term, Israel seeks to control southern Lebanon to establish a buffer zone protecting its northern regions.
Armed clashes continued. On the 20th, Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing Hezbollah members, citing violations of the ceasefire agreement. Israel claimed that Hezbollah members had posed threats in southern Lebanon and were eliminated through airstrikes. The IDF also said it had identified Hezbollah members operating within its forward defense line near the Litani River and killed them using air force assets. Hezbollah, in turn, said on the 19th that it had destroyed four Israeli tanks with pre-planted explosives.
With the truce hanging by a thread, Israel and Lebanon are set to hold a second face-to-face meeting in Washington. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said negotiations with Israel would be handled by a delegation led by Simon Karam, a former ambassador to the United States. Lebanon also said it would pursue direct negotiations with Israel separately from these talks. "Lebanon faces two choices: to continue a war that brings humanitarian, social and economic collapse and continued violations of sovereignty, or to negotiate to end the war and achieve sustainable stability," Aoun said on the 20th. "I have chosen negotiations. I hold hope that these talks can save Lebanon," he emphasized.
Aoun presented negotiation objectives including an immediate halt to Israeli military operations, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, and the deployment of government troops along the Israel-Lebanon border. However, he did not address the disarmament of Hezbollah, the pro-Iran armed faction, which Israel has set as a core condition. Hezbollah also maintains a hardline stance and opposes negotiations, leaving it uncertain whether face-to-face talks between Israel and Lebanon will take place.
