Report: Israel Seeks 10-Km Buffer Zone in South Lebanon

Israel intends for its forces to penetrate up to three kilometers into southern Lebanon to eliminate Hezbollah’s presence and withdraw after completing this mission, according to diplomatic sources.

The plan is not for Israel to maintain a long-term presence in the area but to execute the operation swiftly, U.S. officials informed Lebanon, as cited by *al-Akhbar* newspaper.

The Americans recognized that “Israel is determined to turn the area into a scorched zone and is unwilling to allow anything to obstruct its efforts,” the sources indicated.

While Israel has not abandoned the idea of creating a 10-kilometer buffer zone, it envisions that the remaining seven kilometers will be managed by UNIFIL and the Lebanese Army. If these forces do not meet expectations, Israel is prepared to take on the task later, the sources concluded.