The Economist reports that Israel is planning a ground assault in Lebanon with the aim of establishing a buffer zone to distance Hezbollah elements from its borders. The plan, according to unnamed military sources, involves occupying a strip of land several miles deep north of the border and transforming it into a buffer zone. These sources have confirmed that the plans for a ground invasion are ready, although Israel does not currently have the necessary forces to carry out such an attack.
The magazine also highlighted that there are calls within Israeli decision-making circles for stronger strikes against Hezbollah amid the chaos following recent assassinations and bombings of communication devices. Meanwhile, others, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, are calling for patience, anticipating that Hezbollah will retreat from attacking Israeli territories.
Tensions have escalated in recent days with dozens killed and thousands injured on Tuesday and Wednesday in Lebanon due to bombings of communication devices used by Hezbollah, attributed to Israel. Israeli authorities have committed to restoring calm in northern Israel to allow tens of thousands of displaced individuals fleeing the conflict to return to their homes. Despite the severe clashes, the magazine notes that the situation has not yet escalated to the level of a full-scale war. However, it anticipates that if confrontations continue, Hezbollah might launch a significantly larger number of rockets, including long-range missiles targeting key civilian and military sites in central Israel, and might conduct ground incursions into Israeli territory. On the other hand, Israel would likely respond with a much broader bombing campaign against Hezbollah’s rocket facilities, including those located within civilian areas, and as a last resort, might destroy civilian infrastructure to increase public hostility against the Lebanese organization.
