700 square kilometers under Israeli occupation in Lebanon: What does the ‘security belt’ mean?

Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon have resulted in the occupation or control of approximately 700 square kilometers of territory. This area, referred to as a security belt, is maintained through a combination of physical troop presence, persistent aerial surveillance, and the strategic use of firepower to launch attacks from forward positions.

The expansion of these operations has prompted scrutiny regarding the nature of Israeli control in the region. Defense Minister Israel Katz has addressed the ongoing military activities, which serve to establish a buffer zone intended to influence the security landscape along the border between Israel and Lebanon.