The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that settler activists crossed into Lebanese territory earlier this month near the village of Maroun al-Ras, in what the military described as a “grave incident.”

“The civilians did indeed cross the blue line by several meters, and after being identified by IDF troops, they were dispersed,” the IDF stated, revising its initial report that claimed the activists had merely set up an encampment near an Israeli border community.

The "Wake Up North" (Uri Tzafon/עורי צפון) Movement is a recently emerging Israeli activist group that has demanded they be allowed to settle in Lebanon. 

The incident prompted a stern warning from the IDF, emphasising the dangerous nature of such unauthorised border crossings.

"Any attempt to approach or cross the border into Lebanese territory without coordination endangers one's life and harms the IDF's ability to operate in the area and fulfil its mission," the Israeli military warned in its statement.

A military source revealed that the army has recently intensified efforts to secure various entry points along the Lebanon border fence. Troops have received updated procedures for handling civilian approaches to the border area.

These settlers’ actions threaten to complicate Israel's military operations across multiple fronts and potentially disrupt the relative quiet that has prevailed in Southern Lebanon since the implementation of the ceasefire.

The group want permanent Jewish civilian settlement in Southern Lebanon, arguing that previous security failures occurred because Israel, “did not settle.” The group sees this as a security imperative, arguing that current borders are "artificial" and indefensible, created by French-British colonial agreements rather than natural geographic boundaries.

They frame their position within a broader ideological view that these territories are part of the biblical Land of Israel (“Eretz Israel”), claiming the area is essentially “Northern Galilee.”

The breach comes at a particularly sensitive time, as the IDF works to establish long-term military positions inside Syrian territory while maintaining the delicate ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Currently, IDF troops in Syria are doubling down on their presence in the region, as the new Syrian government is yet to form. Currently led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, the interim Syrian government has demanded Israeli troops leave its territory.