Israel Establishes Security Buffer Zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza

The Cabinet of Israel is implementing a new security doctrine by establishing permanent buffer zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. This strategic shift toward a semi-permanent state of war follows the October 7, 2023, attacks and the conclusion that adversaries like Hezbollah and Hamas cannot be eliminated and must instead be contained.

In southern Lebanon, Israel launched a ground invasion on March 2 to create a security belt extending to the Litani River, covering approximately 8% of Lebanese territory. This operation involves ordering hundreds of thousands of residents to flee and destroying homes in Shi’ite Muslim villages identified as Hezbollah outposts. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed the establishment of these security belts in a March 31 video message to distance threats from Israeli communities.

Similar measures are active in other regions, with Israel maintaining control over more than half of the Gaza Strip and establishing a security belt in Syria stretching from the Mount Hermon summit to the Yarmuch River. These actions continue despite a pause in fighting agreed upon on April 8 between the United States and Iran to negotiate an end to the war that erupted on February 28. While Israel agreed to halt attacks on Iran, it maintains its campaign against Hezbollah.

International law experts have criticized the strategy, describing the sweeping destruction of civilian property as largely unlawful.