Israel Plans Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon
Israel's defence minister has announced plans to establish a buffer zone within southern Lebanon, with Israel maintaining security control over a portion of the territory even after the current conflict with Hezbollah concludes.
Israel Katz stated that the area to be occupied would extend up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon, approximately 30km (18.6 miles) from the Israeli border.
He further declared that all houses in Lebanese villages near the Israeli border would be demolished.
Military Operations and Background
On 2 March, Israel deployed ground troops into southern Lebanon and has concurrently conducted extensive strikes across the country.
This military action followed Hezbollah's rocket attacks into northern Israel, which were in retaliation for Israel's assassination of Iran's supreme leader in late February, marking the onset of the war involving Iran.
Prior to these events, Israel had been conducting near-daily strikes on Hezbollah despite a ceasefire agreement reached in 2024.
Casualties and Humanitarian Impact
According to the Lebanese health ministry, at least 1,238 people have died in Lebanon since early March, including a minimum of 124 children. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that 52 health workers have also been killed.
During the same period, Israeli authorities report that Hezbollah attacks have resulted in the deaths of 10 Israeli soldiers and two civilians.
Additional casualties in southern Lebanon in recent days include three Indonesian peacekeepers and three Lebanese journalists, as reported by the UN and the Lebanese health ministry.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the killing of two journalists, labeling them as "terrorists" without providing supporting evidence. The IDF also acknowledged reports of a female journalist's death.
Responsibility for the deaths of the peacekeepers has not yet been determined.
More than one million people, approximately one-sixth of Lebanon's population, have been displaced, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis in the country.
Objectives and Statements from Israeli Officials
Israeli officials assert that their objective is to safeguard communities in northern Israel from Hezbollah attacks.
In a video statement released by the defence ministry on Tuesday, Katz elaborated on Israel's military objectives in southern Lebanon.
"At the end of the operation, the IDF will establish itself in a security zone inside Lebanon, on a defensive line against anti-tank missiles, and will maintain security control over the entire area up to the Litani."
"In addition, the return of more than 600,000 residents of southern Lebanon who evacuated northward will be completely prohibited south of the Litani until the safety and security of northern residents are ensured," he added.
"All houses in villages near the border in Lebanon will be destroyed - according to the model of Rafah and Beit Hanoun in Gaza - to remove, once and for all, the threats near the border to northern residents," he said.
Katz had previously announced intentions to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon earlier in the month, including prohibiting displaced residents from returning until northern Israel is secure and demolishing houses.
His recent statement extends these plans by confirming that Israeli troops will remain in the region after the conflict with Hezbollah ends.
Context and Regional Implications
Southern Lebanon is predominantly inhabited by Lebanon's Shia Muslim community, which forms Hezbollah's primary support base, but it also includes other communities such as Christians.
The recent Israeli ground invasion has caused widespread concern among the Lebanese population.
Under the ceasefire agreement that ended the 2024 war, Hezbollah was expected to disarm and withdraw from its positions in southern Lebanon, a process to be overseen by the Lebanese government and army.
Although some progress was made, it was incomplete. Israel maintained several military posts in southern Lebanon and continued regular attacks on what it identified as Hezbollah targets.
While the Lebanese government appeared willing to disarm Hezbollah, it lacked the capacity to do so. The prospect of a major confrontation between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah remains a significant concern, raising fears of a return to civil war.
Katz previously criticized the Lebanese government, stating that Israel's actions were necessary because the government had done "nothing."
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel's plans as a "collective punishment against civilians" and suggested they might be part of "suspicious schemes" aimed at expanding Israel's presence in Lebanese territory.
