In the midst of rising anxiety regarding an escalation of the Middle East conflict, Israel has declared it will be “left with no option” but to take action if Hezbollah does not pull back its forces north of the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of 564 individuals, including 50 children and 94 women since Monday, as reported by the nation’s health ministry.
The assaults follow a series of targeted operations against the militant organization Hezbollah, which wields considerable power in Lebanon, and have included a number of pager and radio explosions largely attributed to Israeli forces.
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“We are in danger of witnessing a conflagration that could eclipse the destruction and hardship experienced thus far,” stated the UN’s political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo to the UN Security Council, of which the UK is a member, in the previous week.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, asserted that Israel does not wish to provoke a broader conflict, yet it will not permit Hezbollah to continue its aggressive actions. He accused Hezbollah of breaching international law.
“Should Hezbollah fail to withdraw from our border and return to the north of the Litani River through diplomatic means, Israel will be compelled to utilize all legitimate measures to protect our citizens and allow the evacuees from the north to return to their homes,” he stated.
What is the Litani River and its significance?
The “lion river” is a vital water source in southern Lebanon, extending approximately 110 miles.
For a significant portion of its length, it flows from east to west alongside Lebanon’s border with Israel, creating a natural divide through the expanse of the country.
The river is essential for agriculture, irrigating extensive areas of farmland and bolstering the nation’s food supply.
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UN Resolution 1701 Overview
The Litani River, aside from being a crucial natural feature for Lebanese society, also served as a significant marker in an international accord aimed at ending a brutal conflict.
In the wake of a Hezbollah incursion into Israel in 2006, Israeli Defense Forces launched a widespread military operation against the group, targeting civilian infrastructure across Lebanon.
The UN Security Council later that year sanctioned Resolution 1701, which demanded an immediate halt to hostilities by both sides, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese soil, Hezbollah’s exit north of the Litani River, and the deployment of UN and Lebanese army forces to uphold peace.
In this context, the Litani River was intended to function as a buffer zone separating Hezbollah from Israel.
Despite a ceasefire being established days following the resolution’s passage and Israeli troops withdrawing from Lebanon, Hezbollah and other militant groups persisted.
The agreement has unraveled since the events of October 7, resulting in the Israel-Lebanon border transforming into a conflict zone.
What is Israel’s current stance?
In communication with the UN Security Council, Israel’s foreign minister conveyed that his nation has pursued a diplomatic resolution with Lebanon to ensure the execution of Resolution 1701, yet the claim that Hezbollah has “declined” to cooperate and has tied any ceasefire to the conclusion of the conflict in Gaza.
He urged the UN to “act to ensure full observance of UNSCR 1701, and to ensure there are no armed personnel, assets, and weaponry present between the Blue Line and the Litani River”.
What developments might occur around the Litani River?
Confronted with Israeli assaults, Hezbollah may now find itself compelled to retreat north of the river, posits Dr Burcu Ozcelik from the Royal United Services Institute defense thinktank.
He mentioned to Sky News: “Hezbollah may have no alternatives if it hopes to endure this intense escalation of the conflict in some capacity.
“It will come out weakened, battered, and scarred, with its senior commanders lost, and its operational capacity significantly diminished.
“Furthermore, Hezbollah’s assertion that it is the vigilant protector of all Lebanese against Israeli incursions is in ruins as thousands of terrified civilians seek refuge in Beirut in the north while Hezbollah is incapable of thwarting the Israeli aerial assaults, and a potential ground invasion that could still ensue.”
