Why in News?
On March 23, 2026, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly urged that the Litani River should become "Israel's new border," sparking significant international and Lebanese condemnation.
Key Features
- Geography: It stretches approximately 170 km (105 miles). It rises in the Bekaa Valley near Baalbek, flows south through the valley, and then bends sharply west to empty into the Mediterranean Sea near Tyre.
- Strategic Boundary (Resolution 1701): Under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006), the area between the Israeli border and the Litani River was intended to be a buffer zone free of any armed personnel except the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL).
Economic Importance
- Agriculture: It provides irrigation for roughly 80% of farmland in the Bekaa Valley and 20% in southern Lebanon, vital for citrus and banana crops.
- Hydroelectricity: The Qaraoun Dam (Albert Naccache Dam) creates Lebanon's largest artificial lake and is a major source of hydroelectric power.
Environmental Crisis
- The river faces "national catastrophe" levels of pollution due to uncontrolled sewage, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff, leading to significant health risks for local populations.
UNIFIL Withdrawal
- In August 2025, the UN Security Council extended the UNIFIL mandate for a final time until December 31, 2026, with a planned full withdrawal by mid-2027.
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