According to Jerusalem Post, in a significant shift in its northern campaign, the Israeli government has formally demanded the establishment of a security buffer zone inside Lebanese territory and has simultaneously agreed to scale back its strikes on Hezbollah targets, according to a senior official quoted by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
The report comes after nearly ten months of intense cross-border fire between the Israeli military and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia, which has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border and raised fears of a full-scale war.
The proposed buffer zone is intended to create a security belt north of the Israeli border, pushing Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces away from communities in northern Israel.
Israeli officials have stated this is a non-negotiable condition for any long-term ceasefire agreement.
The zone would reportedly be similar to one Israel maintained in southern Lebanon until its withdrawal in 2000.
Concurrently, and seemingly in an effort to facilitate ongoing U.S.-mediated diplomatic efforts, Israel has agreed to reduce the intensity of its airstrikes.
This decision follows criticism that targeted killings of high-value Hezbollah commanders were escalating the conflict to a dangerous tipping point.
A senior Israeli political official was directly quoted in the report, stating, “We have moved from a policy of containment to a policy of pushing Hezbollah away from the border.
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The official added, “We will do this either by an agreement or by force.
“Preferably by an agreement, but one way or another, we will create a security zone of several kilometers.
The report suggests that while Israel remains prepared for a large-scale military offensive to achieve its goals, it is currently giving precedence to a diplomatic solution brokered by Washington.
This dual-track approach aims to pressure the Lebanese government and international mediators to rein in Hezbollah and agree to the territorial concessions.
Hezbollah has repeatedly stated it will not discuss any agreements until the war in the Gaza Strip concludes.
The group has also vowed to fight any Israeli presence on Lebanese soil.
The Israeli demand for a buffer zone sets a high bar for negotiations, ensuring that the path to de-escalation remains fraught with complexity and the threat of further violence.
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