Khaberni - The Israeli security system intends to demolish all the houses in the first row of Lebanese villages near the southern border fence in Lebanon, prevent their inhabitants from returning, and construct permanent military sites, according to a method previously used in Rafah, Beit Hanoun, and other cities in the stricken Gaza Strip.
This was reported by the "Haaretz" newspaper in an article on its website on Monday evening.
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation ("Kan 11") reported that the Israeli security system agrees with the American administration not to link the war on Iran with the aggression on Lebanon, and that "there is no connection between the two fronts".
According to Israeli sources, the movement of the population puts pressure on Hezbollah and the Lebanese government, while "the residents (Lebanese) will not be allowed to return until South Lebanon is disarmed."
Haaretz's report mentioned that the Israeli security system "sees Hezbollah using all these villages in its operations against Israel, and therefore a 'scorched earth' policy should be adopted to prevent Hezbollah elements from returning to these regions."
It noted that the Israeli army had started implementing this policy in the Gaza Strip in the year prior to the ceasefire reached in October last year, although demolition operations continued even after the agreement.
The Israeli security system also intends to prevent the inhabitants of Lebanese villages from returning to them and seeks to control the area, including constructing permanent and temporary military sites.
According to the report, Israel intends to control the lands of southern Lebanon, up to the Litani River, and establish a security zone between the river and the border with Israel.
The Israeli security system estimates that 585,000 people have so far been displaced from southern Lebanon, about 70% of the residents south of the Litani and about 70% of the inhabitants of the region between the Litani and the Zaharani River.
It also estimates that 621,000 people have been displaced from the southern suburbs of Beirut; where two neighborhoods have been almost completely evacuated, while between 30% and 70% of the residents of five other neighborhoods have been displaced.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the expansion of the current "security zone" in Lebanon, which is controlled by the Israeli occupation army, emphasizing that Tel Aviv "is determined to radically change the situation in the north."
This comes as Israeli security estimates suggest that military operations in Lebanon are likely to continue for a long time, with the Israeli army intending to keep its ground forces deep in southern Lebanon for months, and possibly years, even if a ceasefire is reached.
An Israeli security official said: "We realize that the Lebanese government is unable to disarm Hezbollah, and that the presence of the Israeli army in deep in the region will continue for several months at least, and perhaps for years", according to a report published by the "Yedioth Ahronoth" newspaper on Sunday.
