Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a rare frontline visit to southern Lebanon, declaring that the threat of a Hezbollah invasion of Israel had been eliminated. The visit, which underscored Israel's expanding military presence in Lebanese territory south of the Litani River, came as Israeli and Lebanese officials were reported to be preparing for ceasefire and withdrawal talks.
Israel launched its current ground operation in southern Lebanon with the stated aim of destroying Hezbollah's military infrastructure and securing the safety of Israeli communities in the north, which have faced cross-border fire. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has repeatedly stated that Israeli forces intend to maintain security control over the entire area south of the Litani — a river that runs roughly 30 kilometres north of the Israeli border — raising fears among many Lebanese that the military incursion could become a prolonged occupation reminiscent of Israel's 18-year presence in the country, which ended in 2000.
On the ground, the situation for civilians remaining in the border zone has become increasingly desperate. In the Christian-majority village of Rmeish — located less than a kilometre from the Israeli border — more than 6,000 residents have refused to evacuate despite Israeli military orders to do so. The mayor, Hanna al-Amil, told BBC Arabic that the decision to stay was collective and final: residents cite a deep attachment to land inherited across generations, even as they endure a siege that has cut off regular supplies of food, water, and medicine. Aid finally entered Rmeish and the nearby village of Ain Ebel on Sunday through the International Committee of the Red Cross, along with the evacuation of critically ill patients. The Lebanese army, which had previously escorted supply convoys, withdrew from the area in late March after Israeli forces advanced into the surrounding area and cut key roads linking south of the Litani to Beirut and the rest of the country.
The absence of a hospital in Rmeish adds a further layer of vulnerability. The mayor warned that any resident suffering a serious injury or cardiac event would face a genuine risk of death. Residents also described the psychological toll of uncertainty — not knowing whether their homes, land, or community would survive the conflict.
Why this matters: Netanyahu's visit and his declaration that the Hezbollah invasion threat has been neutralised signal that Israel views its military objectives in southern Lebanon as substantially achieved, at least in part. Yet the human cost continues to mount, and with Lebanon and Israel reportedly moving toward negotiations, the key questions now centre on what a withdrawal agreement might look like, whether Israel would accept the Lebanese army deploying to the border area, and whether the tens of thousands of displaced civilians — on both sides of the border — will be able to return to their homes.