Netanyahu: Israel is establishing a larger "buffer zone" in Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on the 25th stated that Israel is establishing a larger “buffer zone” in Lebanon to counter the threat of Hezbollah anti-tank missiles. According to multiple Israeli media reports, Netanyahu said during a video conference with local government leaders in the northern border region that the current focus is on “dismantling Hezbollah” and that “we are determined to fundamentally change the situation in Lebanon.” The day before, Israeli Defense Minister Katz announced that Israel would expand the “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon to the Litani River. Until the threat from Hezbollah is cleared and northern Israel’s security is ensured, residents displaced by the conflict are not allowed to return south of the Litani River. The Litani River is about 30 kilometers from the temporary Israel-Lebanon border “Blue Line.” Israel has recently carried out consecutive airstrikes on bridges over the Litani River. Lebanese President Aoun said on the 22nd that this was a prelude to a ground invasion by Israel, and that attacking the bridges aimed to cut off the connection between south of the Litani River and other parts of Lebanon. On February 28, the US and Israel launched a large-scale military operation against Iran, which responded by targeting Israeli and US military bases in the Middle East. As Iran’s main regional ally, Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel on the evening of the 2nd of this month, while Israel launched intense airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as Beirut, and conducted ground operations in southern Lebanon. (Xinhua)