Beirut, Lebanon – A military expert has revealed that Israel has been working for years to establish control over five key strategic locations in southern Lebanon. These areas, according to Brigadier General Elias Hanna, form a crucial defensive line and potential staging ground for operations.
In an analysis provided to DZWatch, Hanna identified the locations as Blat, Jall El-Deir, Al-Dawayir, Al-Hamames, and Al-Bouna. He explained that these elevated areas constitute what he termed a “military belt,” allowing the Israeli military to exert significant fire control over surrounding Lebanese villages, potentially reaching as far north as the Litani River.
The strategic importance of these locations, according to Hanna, lies in their function as the first line of defense for Israeli settlements in the Upper and Central Galilee, including Dovev, Avivim, Hanita, Zar’it, Malkia, Metula, and Kiryat Shmona. These settlements have reportedly suffered during recent escalations, prompting Israeli leadership to pledge to secure them by potentially moving into Lebanese territory.
Hanna further stated that Israel has allegedly committed over 10,000 border violations, including 7,500 airstrikes, 2,500 ground operations, and 1,200 incursions into Lebanese territory. This pattern, he argues, indicates a systematic expansion of military activity beyond the scope of UN Resolution 1701.
According to Hanna, the vulnerability of Israeli settlements to even a single “Katyusha” rocket fired from south of the Litani River underscores Israel’s determination to control these five areas in southern Lebanon. He emphasized that the selection of these locations is not arbitrary. Their proximity allows for coordinated control as a single unit, while their elevated topography provides a significant firing advantage, creating what he described as a “punitive deterrent” against Hezbollah’s movements in the region. The areas between these points and the Litani River are also of strategic significance.
