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Operation Litani
EventIL

Operation Litani

1978 Israeli military operation into southern Lebanon; the historical precedent for the Litani River as a buffer-zone boundary in current ceasefire architecture.

Last refreshed: 28 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why is the Litani River still the defining boundary in the 2026 Lebanon ceasefire architecture?

Timeline for Operation Litani

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Common Questions
What was Operation Litani and why does it matter now?
Operation Litani was Israel's 1978 military incursion into southern Lebanon to destroy PLO infrastructure. It established the Litani River as the key geographic boundary in southern Lebanon security architecture, a line that continues to define Ceasefire terms in 2026.
Why did Israel strike north of the Litani River in April 2026?
Israel struck at least 14 people in southern Lebanon on 26 April, breaking the 10-kilometre buffer zone. The IDF issued evacuation orders for seven towns north of the Litani. Hezbollah said it would not stand down while Israel continued Ceasefire violations.Source: Lowdown
What is UNIFIL and how was it created?
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) was established by UN Security Council Resolution 425 in 1978, directly in response to Operation Litani. Its mandate is to confirm Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, restore peace, and assist Lebanon in re-establishing authority in the south.

Background

Operation Litani was an Israeli military operation launched on 14 March 1978 into southern Lebanon, advancing to the Litani River to destroy PLO infrastructure. It established the Litani as a key security boundary and created UNIFIL via UN Resolution 425.

On 26 April 2026, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people in southern Lebanon, breaking the 10-kilometre buffer zone in the most severe escalation since the 16 April truce . The IDF issued evacuation orders for seven towns north of the Litani — the same geographic line established by Operation Litani in 1978 and embedded in every subsequent Ceasefire framework.

Source Material
Operation Litani