Israel-Lebanon border

The transformation of El-Khiam, a Shia town in southern Lebanon located just six kilometers from the Israeli border, serves as a stark illustration of Israel’s evolving security doctrine following the events of October 7. Once home to nearly 30,000 people, the town has been reduced to heaps of twisted metal, steel rods, and broken concrete slabs.

This destruction reflects a fundamental shift in Israeli military thinking: moving beyond a reliance on deterrence to actively denying an enemy the capability to strike. Military officials describe this post-October 7 mindset as a necessity, arguing that the state cannot allow hostile forces to sit on its “porch” and hope they are deterred; instead, the “porch must be demolished.”

A Fortified Stronghold

While appearing as a pastoral town of vineyards and olive trees, El-Khiam functioned as a major logistical and operational hub for Hezbollah. The town sits on key routes linking southern Lebanon to the Bekaa Valley, making it a central corridor for the movement of equipment and fighters.

Israeli troops discovered an extensive military infrastructure woven into the civilian landscape, including:

• Tunnel shafts appearing nearly every 30 meters.
• A 25-meter shaft leading to an underground command center located beneath the floorboards of a minor clothing store, where uniforms, weapons, and communications equipment were found.
• Fortified positions and tunnels carved deep into rock, used to direct rocket fire and anti-tank missile attacks into Israeli border communities such as Metula and Kfar Yuval.

The town also held deep symbolic value. After Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000, Hezbollah took over the site of a notorious prison previously used by the South Lebanon Army, turning El-Khiam into a symbol of “liberation.”

Operational Shifts and Tactical Challenges

The speed of the recent operation highlighted a change in IDF execution. While it took weeks to reach the outskirts of El-Khiam during fighting in 2024, the IDF moved on the city in a matter of hours in early March, following a February 28 attack on Iran. Commanders noted that Hezbollah was caught off guard by the depth and speed of the maneuver.

On the ground, the IDF continues to manage tactical challenges, specifically the use of drones. During a recent press delegation, soldiers responded to an “Air hammer” alert—code for an overhead drone—which was subsequently shot down by a soldier using a personal rifle. Officers emphasized that while drones are a tactical challenge, they are not a strategic threat. The military has adapted using “old-school fieldcraft,” such as protective coverings and nets, rather than relying solely on technology.

Long-Term Implications

The current presence of Givati’s Sabar Battalion in the ruins of the town signals a “strong forward defense posture.” A. , a deputy commander, stated that the primary goal is to ensure residents of Metula and Kfar Yuval no longer endure direct fire and anti-tank missiles.

Regarding the future of the town, the outlook for civilian return appears bleak. Officer A. Stated, “I do not see a situation where we leave this area and civilians return here,” arguing that returning civilians would create vulnerability and renew threats to northern residents.

This strategy—pushing hostile forces back and leveling the structures from which they operated—is visible not only in southern Lebanon but also along eastern Gaza and southwestern Syria. The IDF likely intends to remain in the territory until a solution is found that removes the threat, which would potentially require the dismantling and disarming of Hezbollah.

As Amir Shoshani, commander of the local security squad in Metula, summarized the current posture: “Right now, we have residents in Metula, terrorists inside Lebanon, and between the terrorists and the residents stands the IDF – and that’s how it should be.”