IDF Releases Map of Controlled Area in Southern Lebanon

The Israeli military released a map on Sunday highlighting a large area in southern Lebanon that remains under its control during the ongoing ceasefire with Hezbollah. 5 percent of Lebanon's land, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF called the boundary its Forward Defense Line and described the area as a buffer zone where troops would work to dismantle Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites and prevent direct threats to communities in northern Israel.

The IDF also referred to it as Lebanon's Yellow Line, a term it used to describe the ceasefire border in Gaza. A 10-day ceasefire with Hezbollah entered its second half, while Israel and Lebanon are set to meet for further negotiations later this week.

The Israeli military is occupying a belt of territory at the border between Israel and Lebanon, telling residents to stay out and continuing to destroy infrastructure inside many villages in southern Lebanon.

Michael Young, a senior editor at the Malcolm H Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, said the boundary represented the current front line with Hezbollah. "For the moment this is a temporary line. I think the Israelis will try gradually to establish a line that is more defensible, that isn't a line that was imposed on them by a ceasefire," Young said.

Late last week, Hezbollah indicated it was willing to abide by the ceasefire so long as it included a comprehensive halt to attacks across Lebanon and no freedom of movement for Israeli forces. After the IDF released the map of its new security zone, Hezbollah said it would fight to bring down the line.

"The attempt by the Israeli army to establish a buffer zone, under the title of a defensive line, a yellow line, a green line, and a red line … all these lines will be broken, and we will not accept any of them," Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah said.