Israeli buffer zone in Lebanon continues the war indefinitely

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed that America wants to extend the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.

Lebanese and Israeli representatives will hold talks in Washington on Thursday, with Ambassador Simon Karam heading the Lebanese delegation.

The meeting will focus on extending the truce and setting a framework for direct negotiations.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the goal of the talks is to stop the military conflict, end Israel’s occupation in the South, and to deploy the Lebanese army along internationally recognized borders.

Hezbollah party MP Hassan Fadlallah, called for a sustained ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, the return of displaced residents, the release of detainees, and reconstruction.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on April 19, that Israeli troops in Lebanon would use “full force” if threatened.

Israeli media reported on April 19 that Israel has divided the areas it controls in southern Lebanon into three distinct zones following the ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese government. According to the report, this layered security structure reflects a broader military and strategic doctrine aimed at reshaping the operational landscape along the northern border.

The Israeli imposed buffer zone allows Israel to continue a full scale war against the Lebanese homeowners and civilian population in the South forever, without out accountability and with impunity.

The first zone, referred to as the “red line,” encompasses the front row of villages directly adjacent to the Israeli-Lebanese border. Most of the infrastructure in this area has reportedly been destroyed, and Israeli sources claim that no Hezbollah fighters remain there. In several locations, Israeli ground forces have established fixed military positions, signaling a sustained presence despite the ceasefire.

The second zone, known as the “yellow line,” extends between 6 and 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory. This concept mirrors a similar model implemented in Gaza, where Israel has maintained control over significant portions of land following the October 2025 ceasefire. The stated objective in southern Lebanon is to prevent rocket fire into northern Israel. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces remain deployed in this zone, and sporadic clashes continue, particularly around Hezbollah strongholds such as Bint Jbeil.

The third zone stretches up to the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometers from the border. In this deeper area, Israel seeks to assert control primarily through firepower and surveillance positions rather than continuous troop deployment.

When announcing the 10-day ceasefire last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israeli forces would remain in what he described as an “enhanced security zone” in southern Lebanon. This buffer zone, extending from the Mediterranean coast to the Syrian border and roughly 10 kilometers in width, is intended to shield northern Israeli communities from attacks.

Lebanese citizens see this buffer zone as a land-grab and know from experience that this arrangement may evolve into a long-term or even permanent occupation of southern territories. Israel held a brutal military occupation of South Lebanon for 18 years, during which the citizens were tortured and imprisoned at Kiam, including women and children.

Israeli military and political sources have indicated a high level of alert amid fears that the ceasefire with Iran could collapse. Reports suggest that both Israel and the United States are preparing contingency plans, with Iranian energy infrastructure potentially becoming targets if hostilities resume.

Analysts argue that Israel may be leveraging the Lebanese front to influence broader geopolitical dynamics, particularly ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. Some experts suggest that escalating tensions in Lebanon could pressure Iran into adopting a more rigid stance, thereby complicating diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran.

Others point to internal Israeli debates following the ceasefire with Iran, questioning the effectiveness of the recent conflict if it failed to achieve its primary Israeli objective of weakening or toppling the Iranian regime. According to this perspective, both political and military leadership in Israel are maintaining ready-to-execute plans that could be activated when conditions permit.

On the ground, Lebanese officials have accused Israeli forces of conducting systematic destruction in southern villages even after the ceasefire took effect. Reports indicate that at least 39 villages have experienced varying degrees of damage, with entire residential areas demolished. Lebanese authorities have characterized these actions as potential war crimes, while Israel maintains that its operations target Hezbollah infrastructure.

The situation is further complicated by disputes over a border wall Israel intends to construct. Lebanon has rejected the project, arguing that it violates its sovereignty, particularly in areas along the Blue Line, established by the United Nations in 2000 to confirm Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Israel, however, insists that the construction is taking place within its recognized territory.

Tensions have also extended to maritime disputes, including Lebanon’s plans to explore oil and gas in contested waters. Israeli officials have labeled these efforts as provocative, warning international companies against participating in these projects.

The concept of the “yellow line” itself carries broader strategic implications. Military experts suggest it is not merely a tactical boundary but part of a doctrine aimed at redefining borders temporarily while linking them to political and military conditions, such as the disarmament of Hezbollah. In practice, the area between the Blue Line and the yellow line risks becoming a “free-fire zone,” effectively depopulated and used as a forward defense an Israeli operational launch area.

Data indicates that this project could affect approximately 55 villages, with around 20 already partially or completely destroyed. If fully implemented, it would establish a security belt extending up to 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory, potentially leading to large-scale displacement and significant demographic changes.

A comparable model in Gaza has already resulted in Israeli control over more than half of the territory, accompanied by large-scale displacement. Observers note that similar patterns in Lebanon could have far-reaching humanitarian and political consequences.

While Israeli officials describe these measures as temporary security necessities, some political factions and strategic circles within Israel view them as steps toward establishing new de facto borders. Statements from senior Israeli military figures have even referred to such lines as “new boundaries,” reinforcing concerns about long-term territorial ambitions.

An Israeli soldier in Lebanon was recently videoed taking a sledgehammer to a statue depicting Jesus on the cross in front of a private home in Debel, Lebanon.

Father Fadi Flaifel of Debel told the BBC: “We totally reject the desecration of the cross, our sacred symbol, and all religious symbols.” He recalled similar acts have been carried out Israel in Lebanon.

Former US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene also shared the picture and wrote: “‘Our greatest ally’ that takes billions of our tax dollars and weapons every year.”

Lebanon is unique in the Middle East, with 30% Christians, 30% Sunnis and 30% Shiite Muslims.

The contempt held by Jews against Christians is not a new story, but goes back to their history in Europe, and is still prevalent in Israel today, with the Jewish tradition of spitting on Christians in the Holy Lands.

Recently, Israeli lawmaker Ithmar Ben Gvir explained it is an old and revered Jewish tradition to spit on Christians.

American and European tourists have visited Jerusalem, and while walking through the old city they will be spit upon by Jewish people.

If the Israeli police are called they simply don’t show up, or dismiss the Jews.

When several Christian clerics were attacked and spat upon, they fought back physically, and the Israeli police arrested the Christians and ordered they be deported from Israel. At the last moment, a deal was made to avoid their deportation.

Overall, the evolving situation in southern Lebanon reflects a complex intersection of military strategy, regional power struggles, and fragile diplomacy. The continuation of these policies, especially amid uncertainty surrounding the Iran ceasefire, raises the risk of renewed escalation—not only along the Lebanese border, but across the wider Middle East.

Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist.