By Rami Ayyub, Maayan Lubell, and Emily Rose
While the United States and Iran are trying to consolidate a fragile ceasefire in their conflict, Israel continues to expand its territorial control over its neighbors, preparing for a long-term war in the Middle East.
Israel’s creation of “buffer zones” in Gaza, Syria, and now Lebanon reflects a strategic shift following the October 7, 2023 attacks, placing the Hebrew state in a state of semi-permanent war, according to six Israeli military and defense officials speaking to Reuters.
The ongoing approach recognizes a reality where religious leaders in Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and other armed groups in the region cannot be eliminated entirely.
Israeli leaders have concluded that they are engaged in an endless war against adversaries who need to be intimidated or dispersed, according to researcher Nathan Brown from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
While Washington and Tehran have agreed to a ceasefire as they negotiate a possible end to the war which started on February 28, Israel has agreed to halt attacks on Iran but will continue its campaign against Hezbollah, supported by the Islamic Republic.
Hezbollah entered the conflict on March 2 by launching rockets towards Israel, prompting an Israeli ground invasion in southern Lebanon to establish a buffer zone along the Litani River covering about 8% of the country’s territory.
Israeli forces have ordered hundreds of thousands of residents in the region to evacuate and have started destroying homes in Shiite villages they believe have been used by Hezbollah to store weapons or plan attacks.
The use of buffer zones is part of a new security doctrine where border communities cannot be protected from the border itself, as explained by retired Israeli brigadier general Assaf Orion.
Israel’s move towards establishing buffer zones follows decades of unsuccessful peace agreements with Palestinians, Lebanon, and Syria, illustrating a shift towards a strategy focused on buffer zones amid increased pressure on the Israeli army.
(Context: The article discusses Israel’s creation of buffer zones in neighboring countries and the implications of this strategy for its conflict with Hezbollah and other armed groups. It highlights Israeli military actions and intentions in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.)
(Fact Check: The article accurately reports on Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, including the creation of buffer zones and destruction of homes alleged to be used by Hezbollah. Israeli officials have indeed expressed intentions to secure buffer zones and protect their borders through preventive measures.)
