Khaberni - The Israeli army acknowledged -according to Haaretz- that it would not succeed in disarming Lebanese Hezbollah, stating that this would require a total occupation of Lebanese territories.
The newspaper reported that the army supported the statements of a high-ranking officer, who said that the war could end without stripping Hezbollah of its weapons, and that this goal is not part of the war objectives, rather it is a process that takes time and requires political action as well.
The Israeli newspaper added that the officer mentioned in statements last Friday that only the Lebanese state is capable of disarming the party. He also added that the army plans to submit a plan to the political level in the coming days to establish a "security belt" in southern Lebanon, at a distance of between 2 to 3 kilometers from the border with Israel.
According to the plan, no military sites will be established in this area, and most civilians living in the villages within it will be evacuated, in order to prevent any friction between the soldiers and the civilian population, according to Haaretz.
This comes in the wake of previous threats by the Israeli army of a "full occupation" of Lebanon under the pretext of stripping Hezbollah of its weapons, while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz renewed these threats last Friday to expand the war on Lebanon.
Katz, according to what was reported by the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, announced the army's intention to demolish houses in the border villages, similar to what happened in the cities of Rafah and Khan Yunis in southern Gaza Strip, under the pretext of their use by Hezbollah.
Katz and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously issued threats regarding the expansion of what Israel calls the "buffer zone" in southern Lebanon.
The parliamentary bloc of Hezbollah responded to these statements and threats, affirming that Israel’s pursuit to establish a buffer zone south of the Litani poses a serious threat to Lebanon. The bloc stated last Friday that “any buffer zone would be a graveyard for the invaders, and the resistance's missiles and drones will surpass it.”
It is noted that 4 military brigades of the Israeli army are operating in southern Lebanon, to extend their land incursion, but Hezbollah fighters are confronting them with fierce clashes, which has led, as acknowledged by Tel Aviv, to the deaths of 10 Israeli soldiers so far.
Israel has occupied areas in southern Lebanon for decades, including areas it occupied in the war that took place between October 2023 and November 2024.
The Israeli military operation in Lebanon since March 2nd has resulted in 1368 deaths and 4138 injuries, according to the latest data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
