Top General Pushes for Ground Incursion to Establish South Lebanon Buffer Zone

Israel’s top general on the northern frontier, Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, is reportedly urging leadership to approve a ground offensive into southern Lebanon. His goal is to create a buffer zone and stop Hezbollah’s ongoing attacks on Israeli settlements in the Galilee. This comes amid internal disagreements among Israel’s political and military leaders.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is said to be against launching a major operation at this time, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears publicly supportive of such an initiative. There are even reports suggesting Netanyahu threatened to remove Gallant from his position over the matter.

Gordin believes that pushing Hezbollah away from the border could be done swiftly, as Israeli strikes have already taken out many elite Hezbollah fighters, and most civilians in southern Lebanon have fled. However, the move could provoke a full-scale war with Hezbollah, which possesses an arsenal of 150,000 rockets, including advanced missiles provided by Iran. Gordin argues that a buffer zone would ultimately secure Israel’s north and offer leverage for a better diplomatic resolution.

Gallant, on the other hand, is pushing for diplomacy, aiming for a ceasefire-hostage deal in Gaza before escalating conflict in the north. He reportedly raised concerns during a conversation with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, saying that while diplomatic options are still on the table, Israel is prepared to take action if Hezbollah continues its attacks.

The situation has also raised fears that other Iranian proxies, such as Yemen’s Houthis, could become involved. Just recently, the Houthis fired a missile at Tel Aviv.

Despite both Hezbollah and Israel claiming they want to avoid all-out war, cross-border violence has intensified since early October. Hezbollah has been firing rockets and drones at evacuated Israeli settlements, while Israel responds with daily airstrikes, targeting key Hezbollah figures and arms depots deep inside Lebanon.

While Netanyahu has warned that Israel might face a large-scale confrontation with Hezbollah, there is still debate over whether Israel can manage both the northern front and ongoing operations in Gaza. Gallant has cautioned that fighting Hezbollah could require diverting forces from Gaza and jeopardize efforts to free the remaining hostages held by Hamas.