Israel Draws New Map of Southern Lebanon Control

Israel has released a map showing the new line where its troops are positioned inside Lebanon. The move follows a U. S. -backed ceasefire with Hezbollah that began on Thursday. The map covers villages that Israel says are abandoned, but the military now controls them. The line stretches about 5 to 10 kilometers from the border into Lebanese land. Israel calls this area a buffer zone meant to shield towns in northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks. Similar zones exist near Gaza and in Syria. Israel says five divisions and naval units are working together south of the line. Their goal is to dismantle Hezbollah sites that threaten Israeli communities. The army did not say whether people who left during earlier fighting could return.Lebanese officials have not spoken about the new map. A security source said some villages on or beyond the line can be visited, but most south of it remain off limits to civilians. The Israeli Defence Minister said that any structure used by Hezbollah would be demolished and any road with suspected explosives would be destroyed. The war started on March 2 when Hezbollah fired at Israeli positions. Since then, more than 2, 100 people have died, including children, and over a million residents fled. Hezbollah has lost at least 400 fighters by the end of March, according to insiders. The group has launched rockets and drones that killed Israeli civilians and soldiers. The ceasefire aims to open talks between the U. S. and Iran, but Israel keeps its forces deep inside southern Lebanon. The new map shows how the country plans to maintain a strong presence in the area.