Israel Establishes Buffer Zone in Southern Lebanon Amid Ongoing Operations

According to officers from the 162nd Division, this zone aims to place Israel's northern communities beyond the range of Hezbollah's anti-tank missiles. The buffer zone is defined by a line referred to as the Yellow Line, which varies in distance from the border based on topography.

In the area around Ayta ash-Shaab, the Yellow Line is approximately 15 kilometers from the international frontier. Towns such as Ayta ash-Shaab and Beit Lif have sustained significant damage from recent fighting. IDF officers reported that populations supporting Hezbollah will not be permitted to return to areas south of this line to prevent the buildup of insurgent activities.

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has been involved in Lebanon since the late 1960s, when Lebanese authorities signed an agreement in 1969 allowing Palestinian militias to use the country as a base for attacks against Israel. This led to the 1982 Israeli invasion, which expelled Palestinian groups.

Subsequently, Hezbollah, supported by Iran, established operations along the northern border. The Second Lebanon War occurred in 2006, involving battles in areas like al-Khiyam and Marjayoun. This year marks the 20th anniversary of that conflict. Israel previously maintained a security zone in southern Lebanon from 1985 to 2000.

The current Lebanese government includes representatives from Hezbollah and its ally Amal, holding portfolios such as Health and Finance. Previous governments led by figures like Fuad Siniora from 2005 to 2009 and Saad Hariri from 2009 to 2011 and 2016 to 2020 received Western support but did not challenge Hezbollah's influence.

Western countries, including the United States and European nations, provide assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces and maintain relations with the government in Beirut. The IDF's current approach involves technical means to detect and neutralize unauthorized entries into the buffer zone from the north.