Statements attributed to Israeli military officials showed a new strategy for dealing with the situation on the Lebanese border, where ground surveillance of the “buffer zone” is relied upon and operations are carried out without the need for a permanent military presence, which indicates a broader field and strategic change.
Reuters quoted an Israeli military official as saying that the army will work to “monitor the buffer zone with Lebanon using ground forces capable of launching raids, without the need for a permanent military position within it.”
The same official stressed that “the Litani River will not form a new border with Lebanon,” indicating the rejection of any demarcation of new geographical borders in southern Lebanon.
The agency also reported, citing Israeli military sources, that the trend toward establishing “buffer zones” in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon is considered a “strategic shift” in Israeli military thought, noting that this trend comes as a result of the events of October 7, and may put Israel into a situation of “semi-permanent war.”
This comes in light of the escalation of events on the Lebanese front, as Israel intensified its air strikes on areas in the south, the Bekaa, and Beirut, resulting in human losses and major damage to infrastructure.
At the same time, the scope of the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran remains unclear, as Washington confirmed that Lebanon is not included in the agreement, which means the possibilities of escalation remain open.
International fears are increasing that adopting “buffer zones” as a permanent solution will lead to the consolidation of a state of ongoing tension and increase security risks in the region, especially in the absence of any clear political solution.
