Israel Sets Buffer Zone Extending Into Lebanese Maritime Area

Israel announced a security buffer zone in southern Lebanon on April 19 that extends into Mediterranean waters and overlaps two blocks of the Qana gas field. The demarcation, labeled the Yellow Line by Israeli officials, stretches roughly 10 km north of the border and covers about 6 percent of Lebanese territory.

The announcement came days after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli army Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee released a map of the zone, which Israel said was needed to prevent attacks from Hezbollah fighters.

The buffer zone reaches into Lebanon’s exclusive economic zone and includes Block 9 and Block 8 of the Qana gas field. In January, France’s TotalEnergies, Italy’s Eni, and QatarEnergy signed an exploration permit with Lebanon for Block 8. A 2022 U.S.-mediated maritime agreement set the boundary between the two countries and assigned exploration rights for overlapping areas.

Maritime lawyer Aref Fakhry said the new line places waters within 12 nautical miles of Lebanon’s coast inside the buffer zone.

Lebanese Energy Minister Joe Saddi told Reuters on April 19 that the map does not change the legal status of the 2022 maritime border agreement. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid posted on April 28 that the area contains no gas or security risk. Lebanese oil and gas expert Laury Haytayan said only Block 8 currently has an active exploration contract and that earlier drilling in Block 4 and Block 9 found no commercially viable reserves.