Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demands Israel's new border extend to the Litani River in southern Lebanon. "I say unequivocally - the new Israeli border must be the Litani." The conflict escalated on March 2 when Hezbollah fired rockets. The IDF targeted bridges over the Litani, and the defense minister ordered the destruction of Lebanese village homes.

Smotrich leads a far-right coalition party and has made similar expansionist statements about Gaza. Netanyahu's office declined to comment. A Lebanese official said Beirut relies on international pressure to end the war.