On Oct. 20 Israel defense minister Katz said if Hezbollah participates in an
Iranian attack on Israel the IDF will seize more Lebanese territory. He said
since the IDF resumed operations against Hezbollah in March it has taken about
700 sq km in southern Lebanon, displaced roughly 200,000 Shi'ite residents,
destroyed more than 60 villages and about 23,000 homes, and demolished
underground tunnels and other infrastructure. Katz said the IDF would expand
control in southern Lebanon and is prepared to take additional land around
Nebetiyeh and the Litani River if Hezbollah joins an Iranian strike, and that
Israeli forces will not withdraw from occupied areas until Hezbollah is disarmed
across Lebanon.
