Military infrastructure expands across southern Lebanon
Israeli forces are building new roads through mountainous and valley areas in southern Lebanon to connect military positions, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported on Saturday. The construction is taking place alongside demolition operations and spans parts of the western and central sectors of the territory described by the agency as occupied.
In the western sector, the reported work covers areas near Naqoura, Yarine, Dhayra, Marwahin and Alma al-Shaab. The Lebanese Army and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon are deployed in this area. The reported road-building activity is therefore taking place in a zone where Lebanese and UN forces are already present, although the agency did not provide details on the scale of the construction or the military units involved.
In the central sector, construction has been reported near Aita al-Shaab, Maroun al-Ras, Bint Jbeil and Aitaroun. The National News Agency said Maroun al-Ras overlooks the Israeli settlement of Avivim across the border. It did not report whether the new routes had been completed or describe any change in the status of the military positions they are intended to link.
Talks on withdrawal and disarmament remain unresolved
The activity follows US-sponsored military and technical discussions between Lebanon and Israel in Tampa, Florida, on 20 and 21 October 2026. The meetings ended without an announced breakthrough or a joint statement. Reports indicated that the two sides had agreed to continue negotiations, but the central disagreements remain Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
A framework agreement reached in June provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the areas concerned in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the disarmament of armed groups. The reported construction of routes connecting Israeli positions comes while the implementation of that framework remains contested.
- Western sector: Naqoura, Yarine, Dhayra, Marwahin and Alma al-Shaab
- Central sector: Aita al-Shaab, Maroun al-Ras, Bint Jbeil and Aitaroun
- Negotiations: US-sponsored talks held in Tampa on 20-21 October ended without a public agreement
Lebanon reports continuing casualties and displacement
Israel has continued military operations in Lebanon despite the June framework, according to the report. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that attacks since 2 March had killed at least 4,386 people and wounded 12,407. The ministry also reported that more than 1 million people had been displaced by the violence since early March.
| Measure | Figure reported by Lebanon’s Health Ministry |
|---|---|
| Killed since 2 March | At least 4,386 |
| Wounded since 2 March | 12,407 |
| Displaced since early March | More than 1 million |
The casualty and displacement figures are claims by Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The report did not include an Israeli military assessment of the road construction, the demolition operations or the figures released by Lebanese authorities. The developments underline the gap between the stated framework for a gradual withdrawal and the continuing military activity in southern Lebanon, while negotiations remain open but unresolved.
