World
How Israel Is Taking Control of Southern Lebanon
Few parts of southern Lebanon remain untouched by the war.
Entire villages have emptied after Israel issued sweeping evacuation warnings for nearly all of the south. Israeli airstrikes have destroyed homes, severed bridges and razed parts of towns. Israeli ground forces have advanced deeper into southern Lebanon, clashing with Hezbollah militants in the rugged, hilly terrain.
The war has brought intense uncertainty to the south, a predominantly Shiite Muslim area dominated by Hezbollah for decades.
This week, Israeli officials offered their most explicit plan to date to occupy a swath of southern Lebanon from the border up to the Litani River after the ground invasion ends. That would amount to about 10 percent of the entire country. Israeli officials have said they aim to establish a “security zone” to prevent the territory from being used to attack Israel.
The hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese who fled the south will not be allowed to return to their homes until the “safety and security of northern Israeli residents is ensured,” the defense minister, Israel Katz, said on Tuesday.
Lebanon’s government has condemned Israel’s military campaign and appealed to the international community to intervene. Last week, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warned the U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, about the risk of Israel annexing the territory south of the Litani River.
Razing border villages
Mr. Katz reiterated on Tuesday that Israel’s plan in southern Lebanon includes demolishing entire Lebanese towns on the border.
Many of Lebanon’s border villages were devastated in the previous escalation of fighting in 2024. At least six villages saw widespread destruction in that war. Israeli airstrikes that persisted after the cease-fire made it virtually impossible for residents to rebuild in those villages.
“There was nothing to return to” after the last war in 2024, said Alaa Suleiman, 40, who fled from his home Kfar Kila, a village along the border with Israel. “Even when people tried to put up prefabricated houses, they were targeted by strikes. It meant we had no hope of ever returning.”
Since the latest war broke out last month after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Tehran, Israel has appeared to accelerate its destruction of the border towns.
One video circulating on social media and verified by The New York Times shows several large simultaneous explosions on March 17 in Aita al-Shaab, which is about a mile from the border. Satellite images viewed by The Times from later that day confirmed the damage to the area. The town was already heavily hit in 2024.
The destruction of communities along the border is part of a deliberate strategy by the Israeli military, according to Mr. Katz, who said that the practice of flattening homes in southern Lebanon is “following the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza.” There, Israel used bulldozers and controlled demolitions to erase entire neighborhoods.
Bombing bridges
In March, the Israeli military demolished most of the key bridges across the Litani River, in what it said was an effort to prevent Hezbollah from moving reinforcements and combat equipment to southern Lebanon. The waterway, which is as much as 20 miles from the Israeli border at its furthest point, has long marked the dividing line between southern Lebanon and the rest of the country.
Much of the Litani River is situated at the base of a ravine, making the bridges critical — both for civilians still living in the south to leave as well as for medical supplies, food and other essentials to reach those who have remained.
By blowing up the major bridges connecting northern Lebanon to the south, Israel has forced civilian traffic onto a handful of smaller crossings. Should Israel target those crossings, southern Lebanon would be almost entirely severed from the north.
Israeli officials have not made clear whether the military will reach the river itself or only control it from afar, nor how long the military intends to stay there.
A video filmed by Reuters and verified by The Times shows several fiery explosions across a large bridge in Qasmiyeh, in the south of Lebanon. Dark clouds of smoke can be seen rising into the air, along with debris.
Ground assault
After the previous war between Hezbollah and Israel ended in a cease-fire agreement in late 2024, the Israeli military occupied five outposts near the border inside Lebanon.
Since the start of a new war, Israel has sent in at least 5,000 ground troops, according to two Israeli officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
Satellite images analyzed by The Times showed Israeli vehicles in new military positions in four Lebanese towns near the Israeli border. As of late March, vehicles were not visible much deeper into Lebanese territory than where Israeli troops previously reached during the 2024 ground invasion.
In the border town of Khiam, images reveal razed areas and destroyed buildings in various parts of the town.
A mix of Merkava tanks and armored personnel carriers are visible in the images, said Jeremy Binnie, Middle East defense specialist at Janes, a London-based defense intelligence firm.
News of the destruction in Khiam has stirred alarm among residents, nearly all of whom fled when the war broke out.
“After the last war, we rebuilt our home. We said it’s over. And now it’s all being destroyed again,” said Ali Akkar, 78, who was displaced from his home in Khiam. “In the last war, we had some hope to return home. Now we have none.”
Satellite imagery verified by The Times also suggests that there was an Israeli military presence at a hospital near Meiss al-Jabal, a town near the Israel-Lebanon border. Satellite imagery showed what appeared to be armored vehicles in various positions around the hospital complex.
While it has been possible to access satellite imagery from southern Lebanon, cloud coverage obscured the visibility of many areas after March 18, making more recent positions of Israeli forces in Lebanon harder to independently verify.
Targeting infrastructure
Israeli airstrikes have also hit homes, gas stations, money exchanges and other civilian infrastructure that the Israeli military says are being used by Hezbollah.
Israel struck in March at least four fuel stations run by the Al-Amana Petroleum Company, a major fuel distributor that was previously placed under U.S. sanctions for its alleged links to Hezbollah. Israeli officials say these stations are “significant economic infrastructure” for the group.
Video filmed by Agence France-Presse showed the damage to a gas station between the cities of Naqoura and Tyre, in southwest Lebanon. A sign hangs from the roof, which is partially damaged, and a large crater is visible on the pavement.
While Israeli officials say the gas stations help fund Hezbollah, they have also benefited many Lebanese. At times, they have sold fuel at subsidized prices, making them a lifeline for poorer people as the war in Iran drives up fuel costs.
The devastation has anguished residents of the south who have fled and watched from afar as their towns and villages have been destroyed.
“There’s so much more destruction, more fighting, the stakes of this war are much higher than the last one,” said Hooda Rajab, 28, who was displaced from her home on the outskirts of Khiam. “Now we’re asking: Will we ever be able to return home? Even if we can, will there be anything for us to return to?”
Olivia Rodrigo has announced dates for “The Unraveled Tour,” a huge 65-date run across North America, Europe, and the UK. The tour supports her third studio album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” out June 12, 2026 via Geffen Records.
Promoted by Live Nation, the global tour kicks off Friday, September 25 in Hartford, CT at PeoplesBank Arena and features multi-night plays in cities around the world including Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Vancouver, Oakland, Las Vegas, Stockholm, Paris, Milan, and more.
Opening acts include Devon Again, Die Spitz, Grace Ives, The Last Dinner Party, and Wolf Alice will join Olivia on select dates. Full dates appear below.
Rodrigo is set to appear on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” tonight (April 30), and will make her hosting debut with double duty on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend on May 2.
American Express is partnering with Olivia Rodrigo for the tour. Eligible American Express Card Members will have access to Amex Presale Tickets for the North America, Europe and UK dates starting Tuesday, May 5 at 12pm local time through Wednesday, May 6 at 10pm local time, while supplies last. Presale dates and times vary by show.
NORTH AMERICA TICKETS: The general onsale will begin Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.
EUROPE TICKETS: For Europe dates, fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering the new album by signing up — no purchase necessary. Those already preordered will automatically receive a code. The general onsale begins Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.
UK TICKETS: For UK dates, tickets will first be available via an O2 presale beginning Tuesday, May 5 at 10am local time. Fans can also register for presale access by pre-ordering the new album or by signing up — no purchase necessary. Those who already preordered will automatically receive a code. The general onsale begins Thursday, May 7 at 12pm local time.
VIP: The Unraveled Tour will also offer VIP packages and experiences.
SILVER STAR TICKETS: Olivia Rodrigo will once again offer Silver Star Tickets on her upcoming tour, with a limited number of $20 USD tickets (or local currency equivalent, plus taxes where applicable) available at a later date. Originally introduced during the “Guts” world tour, the program is designed to make attending shows more accessible and affordable for fans. Tickets must be purchased in pairs, with a maximum of two per order. Seats will be assigned together, with locations revealed on the day of show at venue box office pickup. Ticket locations may include limited view, lower and upper levels, as well as floor seating.
OLIVIA RODRIGO’S FUND 4 GOOD: Fund 4 Good is a global initiative that supports community-based nonprofits to build an equitable and just future for all women and girls. Past donations supported organizations championing girls’ education, reproductive rights, and the prevention of gender-based violence. A portion of Olivia’s proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the fund.
THE UNRAVELED TOUR 2026/2027 DATES:
Fri, Sep 25—Hartford, CT—PeoplesBank Arena+
Sat, Sep 26—Hartford, CT—PeoplesBank Arena+
Tue, Sep 29—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena+
Wed, Sep 30—Pittsburgh, PA—PPG Paints Arena+
Sat, Oct 3—Washington, DC—Capital One Arena+
Sun, Oct 4—Washington, DC—Capital One Arena+
Wed, Oct 7—Charlotte, NC—Spectrum Center+
Thu, Oct 8—Charlotte, NC—Spectrum Center+
Sun, Oct 11—Chicago, IL—United Center+
Mon, Oct 12—Chicago, IL—United Center+
Thu, Oct 15—Boston, MA—TD Garden+
Sat, Oct 17—Boston, MA—TD Garden+
Wed, Oct 21—Montreal, QC—Bell Centre+
Thu, Oct 22—Montreal, QC—Bell Centre+
Mon, Oct 26—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena+
Tue, Oct 27—Toronto, ON—Scotiabank Arena+
Thu, Oct 29—Columbus, OH—Schottenstein Center+
Fri, Oct 30—Columbus, OH—Schottenstein Center+
Sat, Nov 7—Philadelphia, PA—Xfinity Mobile Arena^
Sun, Nov 8—Philadelphia, PA—Xfinity Mobile Arena^
Wed, Nov 11—Atlanta, GA—State Farm Arena^
Thu, Nov 12—Atlanta, GA—State Farm Arena^
Sun, Nov 15—Orlando, FL—Kia Center^
Mon, Nov 16—Orlando, FL—Kia Center^
Thu, Nov 19—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena^
Fri, Nov 20—Sunrise, FL—Amerant Bank Arena^
Mon, Nov 23—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena^
Tue, Nov 24—Nashville, TN—Bridgestone Arena^
Tue, Dec 1—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena^
Wed, Dec 2—Vancouver, BC—Rogers Arena^
Mon, Dec 7—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena^
Tue, Dec 8—Seattle, WA—Climate Pledge Arena^
Fri, Dec 11—Oakland, CA—Oakland Arena^
Sat, Dec 12—Oakland, CA—Oakland Arena^
Tue, Dec 15—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center^
Wed, Dec 16—Sacramento, CA—Golden 1 Center^
Sat, Dec 19—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena^
Sun, Dec 20—Las Vegas, NV—T-Mobile Arena^
Tue, Jan 12—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^
Wed, Jan 13—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^
Sat, Jan 16—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^
Sun, Jan 17—Los Angeles, CA—Intuit Dome#^
Thu, Feb 11—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^
Fri, Feb 12—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^
Mon, Feb 15—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^
Tue, Feb 16—Brooklyn, NY—Barclays Center#^
Fri Mar 19—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena~
Sat Mar 20—Stockholm, Sweden—Avicii Arena~
Tue Mar 23—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome~
Wed Mar 24—Amsterdam, Netherlands—Ziggo Dome~
Thu Apr 1—Munich, Germany—Olympiahalle~
Fri Apr 2—Munich, Germany—Olympiahalle~
Mon Apr 5—London, UK—The O2~
Tue Apr 6—London, UK—The O2~
Thu Apr 8—London, UK—The O2~
Fri Apr 9—London, UK—The O2~
Fri Apr 23—Paris, France—La Defense Arena=
Tue Apr 27—Milan, Italy—Unipol Dome=
Wed Apr 28—Milan, Italy—Unipol Dome=
Sat May 1—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi=
Sun May 2—Barcelona, Spain—Palau Sant Jordi=
Support:
+ Wolf Alice
^ Devon Again
# The Last Dinner Party
~ Grace Ives
= Die Spitz
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned China that “the sovereignty of our hemisphere is non-negotiable” after the U.S. and regional allies accused Beijing of detaining Panama-flagged ships in a dispute tied to canal port control.
In a joint statement with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Guyana, Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. said China’s actions targeting Panama-flagged vessels were a “blatant attempt to politicize maritime trade” and infringe on regional sovereignty, framing the dispute as a broader strategic test over control of one of the world’s most critical commercial arteries.
While the Panama dispute centers on shipping detentions rather than a physical blockade, critics increasingly view it alongside battles over other strategic choke points, such as the Strait of Hormuz, as part of a widening contest over whether Beijing or Washington will shape the rules governing global trade and energy corridors.
IRAN’S $800M OIL SMUGGLING SCHEME USES TANKERS POSING AS IRAQI SHIPS TO DODGE BLOCKADE
Containers and cranes at the Port of Balboa at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal in Panama City, Panama, Feb. 25, 2025.
The confrontation follows Panama’s Supreme Court decision earlier in 2026 to invalidate the legal framework behind Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s long-held control of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals flanking the Panama Canal, a choke point that handles roughly 5% of global maritime trade.
U.S. regulators have monitored nearly 70 Panama-flagged vessels detained by Chinese authorities since March 8, according to Reuters — a surge American officials say appears designed to retaliate against Panama and pressure global shipping.
“China has used Iran to destabilize the Middle East. In effect, Iran has been China’s proxy,” China expert Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital, arguing Beijing’s actions in Panama fit a broader global pattern in which China uses economic leverage, trade pressure and regional partners to expand influence while condemning similar tactics from Washington.
Chang said Beijing is now facing growing resistance as the U.S. increasingly moves not only against China directly, but also against governments and geopolitical flashpoints he argues have strengthened Beijing’s hand.
“Trump apparently decided that he would counter this sly tactic by taking China’s proxies — Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran — off the board,” Chang said.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE BILL TO REPURCHASE PANAMA CANAL AFTER TRUMP RAISES CONCERNS OF CHINESE CONTROL
An aerial view shows the port of Rodman in Panama City Jan. 30, 2026. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)
He also framed pressure on Iran and threats to the Strait of Hormuz as part of a larger strategic effort aimed at both Tehran and Beijing.
“Closing the Strait of Hormuz is a two-fer, starving Iran’s regime and shaking China’s already fragile economy,” Chang said. “Trump is using energy to reorder the world.”
Chang also accused Beijing of hypocrisy over trade.
“China’s Communists invented hypocrisy. Nobody does hypocrisy better than the Chinese Communists,” he said, arguing China long benefited from a global trading system it increasingly weaponized for geopolitical purposes.
“The elemental truth is that China started this cycle of action and retaliation,” Chang said. “If China had not threatened America, America would not have leaned on Panama. If America had not leaned on Panama, China would not have detained Panamanian vessels.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Two cargo ships enter the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal in Panama City on Jan. 22. (Martin Bernetti/AFP)
China has rejected accusations that it is politicizing trade, with its foreign ministry arguing U.S. criticism reflects Washington’s own strategic ambitions around the canal.
China’s foreign ministry called the statement on Wednesday “entirely baseless and misleading”, said it would take steps to safeguard China’s interests in Panama, and accused the United States of politicizing ports, according to Reuters.
“China also urges the relevant countries not to be deceived or exploited by malevolent forces,” added Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Reuters contributed to this article.
Published on
The Belgian government will partner with the French energy giant to revive nuclear power in its energy mix as soaring electricity prices, driven by ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty in the Middle East, have already pushed the country’s inflation to 4% in April.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Belgium’s plans to phase out nuclear energy by 2025 were partly derailed by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which drove a surge in natural gas and electricity prices.
While the idea of revoking the 2003 Belgian law to shut down all nuclear reactors faced resistance from the Greens, the Belgian parliament repealed it in May 2025.
With a new energy crisis already driving electricity prices up by more than 50% and uncertainty over the duration of the Middle East crisis, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever unveiled on Thursday a deal with Engie to conduct feasibility studies for a full takeover of the Belgian nuclear power plant and the halt of decommissioning activities.
“This government opts for secure, affordable, and sustainable energy. With less dependence on fossil fuel imports and more control over our own supply,” De Wever said on Thursday.
The deal signed on Thursday aims to reach an agreement on the takeover of the nuclear fleet by 1 October, but it remains unclear how much Belgium will pay for this nuclear renaissance.
Belgium boasts seven nuclear reactors: four at Doel in East Flanders and three in Tihange in Wallonia. Two of these are still operational: Doel 4 and Tihange 3. Their operating licenses were recently extended until 2035, but amid vulnerabilities exposed by the energy crisis, the government may consider extending them further.
“With this, the Belgian government assumes responsibility for the country’s long-term energy supply, with the aim of developing a financially and economically viable activity that supports security of supply, climate objectives, industrial resilience, and socio-economic prosperity,” reads the press statement from the Belgian government and Engie.
Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet dubbed the government’s decision a “coherent political vision” which will ensure cheaper energy prices and a reliable supply, while strengthening Belgium’s strategic energy autonomy.
“Less than a year after the law enabling the return of nuclear energy in Belgium came into force, this momentum is already materialising through our determination to regain control of our assets and capabilities,” Belgian Energy Minister Mathieu Bihet told Euronews.
In 2024, under Alexander de Croo’s government, Belgium hosted a landmark nuclear summit, drawing eleven EU countries to back a declaration to boost nuclear energy.
Two years later, Paris hosted the nuclear summit, with numerous nations in attendance pledging to deploy small modular reactors to counter energy price volatility and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying that phasing out nuclear power was a “strategic mistake”.
-
Delaware5 minutes agoAmerica250 in Delaware: What to know about the 250th birthday plans
-
Florida11 minutes agoSpaceX rocket launch this weekend. See liftoff from the Treasure Coast
-
Georgia17 minutes agoRivian downsizes new EV factory after Trump’s DOE slashes loan agreement
-
Hawaii23 minutes agoTin Can Mailman: Preserving Hawaii’s past, one paper treasure at a time
-
Idaho29 minutes agoSix transgender residents sue Idaho after state criminalizes use of bathrooms
-
Illinois35 minutes agoIL Accountability Commission refers federal agents for investigation, possible prosecution
-
Indiana41 minutes agoIndiana standoff ends after SWAT armored vehicle rams home: sheriff
-
Iowa47 minutes agoWest Iowa motorcyclist dies in crash with farm sprayer