Israel already started this current invasion of Lebanon with five ready-made occupation bases. Israel had seized the sites during their last invasion in 2024, and were continuing to expand and fortify them ahead of a deal to withdraw from Lebanon, right up until they announced they were keeping all five bases and the US said it was okay.
The ongoing invasion has seen Israel establish a new “Yellow Line” occupation zone in southern Lebanon, and that line has been creeping ever northward as the war drags on. So, according to the UNIFIL peacekeepers, has the number of bases Israel is in control of on Lebanese soil.
The UNIFIL reports three new “fortified” Israeli bases within Lebanon, at Maroun El-Ras, Khiam and Mays al-Jabal. That’s only the beginning of things, however, as the expansion northward has seen Israel establishing some 20 additional bases on top of that. Just bases they haven’t fortified yet.
UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) vehicles ride along a street in Marjaayoun, Southern Lebanon January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
The UNIFIL peacekeepers reported that Israel continues to expand into other areas they weren’t previously in control of. They reported the Lebanese military was chased out of Deir Mimas, nominally outside the occupation zone, when Israeli drones dropped stun grenades on them.
The UNIFIL has served as an important observer force during the ongoing Israel invasion and the multiple other Israeli invasions of Lebanon in past years. Their mandate is approaching expiration and as usual, Israel is keen for the mandate to end, and for UNIFIL peacekeepers to get out of their way.
Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam has called for the mandate to be extended again, saying Lebanon needs an international force in the country as the war is ongoing. Lebanese officials have also expressed support for a UN-backed, European Union-centric alternative force, something being proposed as a replacement in case they can’t convince the US to allow the mandate to be extended.
Israel is also opposed to the idea of a replacement force being in southern Lebanon, and it’s not hard to imagine why, as reports on the situation on the ground often frame Israel as aggressors, and given they are conducting an offensive invasion, it’s difficult to envision an alternative force will not lead to the exact same, rather obvious conclusion.
