Israel’s army has released a provocative map outlining a massive buffer zone in southern Lebanon, signaling no retreat despite a freshly inked ceasefire. The demarcated area snakes across Lebanese land from the sea near Naqoura to Mount Hermon on the Syrian frontier, incorporating villages, ridges, and towns north of Bint Jbeil up to the Litani River in certain sectors, plus a naval exclusion zone offshore.
Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israeli troops will hold the line, demolishing structures as in Gaza and targeting perceived Hezbollah operatives without mercy. Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this stance, underscoring the zone’s role in shielding Israel’s north from rocket threats.
Five IDF divisions and naval forces are constructing defensive positions to safeguard communities battered by Hezbollah attacks. This comes as NNA documented Sunday’s escalated actions: home demolitions in Bint Jbeil, tank patrols amid ruins, building blasts in Al-Bayada and Al-Nakura, road blockades, and shelling of Kunin.
The unilateral move lacks approval from Lebanon or Syria. Released days after a U.S.-mediated 10-day truce amid March’s flare-up, it recalls Israel’s persistent raids during the prior November 2024 lull.
Critics see this as a power play, testing ceasefire limits and risking collapse. With forces entrenched and operations ramping up, the fragile peace hangs by a thread, as diplomats scramble to prevent a full-scale war.
