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Israel claims ownership of Lebanese gas field after establishing Gaza-style ‘Yellow Line’ near border

April 21, 2026

Israel has declared a large swath of the southern Lebanese border area a “Forward Defense Zone,” similar to the ‘Yellow Line’ perimeter used by Tel Aviv to seize additional territory in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military’s Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee, on 19 April, published a map of the area, where he said troops are operating to destroy “Hezbollah-affiliated infrastructure.”

#عاجل ينشر جيش الدفاع نطاق خط الدفاع الأمامي الذي تعمل فيه قواته في جنوب لبنان لمنع تهديد مباشر على بلدات الشمال

🔸في هذه الأيام تعمل خمس فرق عسكرية إلى جانب قوات سلاح البحرية بشكل متزامن جنوب خط الدفاع الأمامي في جنوب لبنان لتدمير البنى التحتية التابعة لحزب الله في المنطقة ومنع… pic.twitter.com/WbtV8La7nx

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) April 19, 2026

The map covers areas beyond the southern Lebanese coast and into the ocean, including the Qana gas field, which belongs to Lebanon according to the maritime border agreement reached indirectly between Beirut and Tel Aviv in 2022.

“Five military brigades are operating alongside Navy forces simultaneously south of the forward defense line in southern Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah-affiliated infrastructure in the area and prevent a direct threat to the northern towns,” Adraee said.

The Israeli military initially referred to the 10-kilometer area as a ‘Yellow Line.’

According to the Israeli army, the 10-kilometer zone includes 55 towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

However, Lebanese researcher Ahmad Baydoun revealed that the area “covers approximately 70 Lebanese villages – more than the 55 villages reported by Israeli media,” adding that the zone includes towns “known to still be inhabited: the Christian villages of Rmeish, Debl, and Ain Ebel, and the Sunni town of Shebaa.”

The IDF-declared "Forward Defense Zone" covers approximately 70 Lebanese villages – more than the 55 villages reported by Israeli media. Among those known to still be inhabited: the Christian villages of Rmeish, Debl, and Ain Ebel, and the Sunni town of Shebaa. pic.twitter.com/COOuZh0Hl4

— Ahmad Baydoun (@weatherwar) April 19, 2026

Baydoun also notes that the map “fully absorbs” the Qana gas field.

The maritime border deal was reached with the government of former Israeli premier Yair Lapid – now Benjamin Netanyahu’s opposition.

When the deal was reached, Netanyahu and his allies slammed it, saying Lapid’s government gave up more than it should have.

The field was previously estimated to contain up to 100 billion cubic meters of gas, with projected value estimates ranging from $20 to $ 40 billion.

An international consortium consisting of TotalEnergies and other major firms began drilling in 2023. Yet Lebanese officials were informed that no commercially viable gas was found in the field.

After failing to defeat Hezbollah and abandoning its goal of capturing Lebanese territory all the way up to the Litani River, Tel Aviv announced plans to establish the 10-kilometer buffer zone in the south.

Israel openly declared its intentions to destroy entire towns and villages. Defense Minister Israel Katz recently said in a statement that the residents of these towns would not be allowed to return.

Since the ceasefire earlier this month, Israeli troops have remained deployed in the south, continuously rigging whole neighborhoods with explosives while filming the demolitions and publishing them online.

In Gaza, the ‘Yellow Line’ was meant to be the perimeter to which Israeli forces would withdraw in line with the ceasefire deal.

However, the invading forces used it to seize additional territory, set up permanent outposts, and continue the campaign of genocide.

Tel Aviv is now claiming that the terms of the truce with Lebanon include its freedom of action and the right to attack when it pleases.

Hezbollah has repeatedly stressed it will not allow a return to the post-November 2024 situation, where it “exercised patience” with Israeli violations to give the government a chance to expel Israeli troops diplomatically.

Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in south Lebanon since the ceasefire was announced.

“As a convoy of eight armored vehicles was moving on Sunday, 19-04-2026, from the town of Taybeh toward the old Al-Salaa site in the town of Deir Siryan, it was struck by a chain explosion of improvised explosive devices previously planted in the area by the fighters of the Islamic Resistance,” Hezbollah said Monday.

“The explosion, which occurred in two waves between 15:40 and 16:40, led to the destruction of four Merkava tanks, which were seen engulfed in flames before the enemy, at 18:00, proceeded to withdraw them from the scene,” the Lebanese resistance group added.