Israel establishes Buffer Zone in Lebanon amid rising Hezbollah tensions

WEB DESK: Israel announced on Tuesday that it was creating a buffer zone inside Lebanon, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) seizing additional positions across the border. Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he had authorised the advance to protect Israeli border communities from incoming attacks.

According to AFP, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, a military spokesman, said troops had moved forward to dominate strategic terrain and establish a protective zone. The Lebanese army responded by redeploying soldiers from several recently established border posts, citing safety concerns, with each point staffed by eight to nine troops.

Escalating Strikes Between Israel and Hezbollah

The tensions follow a rocket attack on Israel by Hezbollah, which vowed to “avenge” the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during US-Israeli strikes. In response, Israel launched large-scale strikes on Lebanon, targeting over 160 Hezbollah sites, including the elite Radwan Force and killing the group’s intelligence chief, Hussein Muakalled.

Despite Israel maintaining it has no plans for a full-scale invasion, the military confirmed that “all options are on the table” to stop rocket fire. Meanwhile, Hezbollah retaliated by targeting three Israeli military bases. Air strikes have hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, Hezbollah command centres, weapons storage facilities, and satellite communications, prompting warnings to civilians to evacuate certain areas. One rocket fired from Lebanon struck a house in the village of Yuval, causing minor injuries from glass shrapnel.