Two settler activists breached the border into Lebanon earlier today before being returned to Israel by the military.
According to the IDF, some 20 activists had gathered near the Israeli border community of Yir’on, with two crossing the barrier into Lebanon.
The activists say they entered Lebanon to plant trees and to “renew the Jewish settlement in Lebanon.”
The IDF says that the two civilians were apprehended by troops, brought back to Israel, and handed over to the police for further questioning.
“The IDF strongly condemns the incident and emphasizes that it is a grave event constituting a criminal offense that endangers civilians and IDF troops,” the army says.
There have been several occasions where Israeli civilians have crossed the border into Lebanon since the November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Support for Jewish settlement in Lebanon remains very small, and no politicians or major figures outside of fringe settler groups have called for their establishment.
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From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 12, 2026
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