The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported on Thursday that the Israeli army has begun establishing a new line of permanent military positions in southern Lebanon, aiming to bolster its control on the ground in the region.
This comes despite Washington’s announcement that, during the Rome talks between Beirut and Tel Aviv, which concluded on Wednesday, an agreement had been reached on the “structure and guidelines” for implementing the Israeli withdrawal from two pilot areas in southern Lebanon.
Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades, and others since the 2013-2014 conflict. During the current offensive, Israeli forces have penetrated more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.
Israel already maintains what it calls a “security zone,” a buffer strip extending several kilometers into Lebanese territory along the border, which it established during the last war with Hezbollah in 2014-2015.
The Israeli newspaper Maariv, citing unnamed sources, reported that the Israeli army has begun establishing a line of new permanent military positions in southern Lebanon as part of its efforts to solidify its presence there. The report did not provide details about these positions.
It added that this move could strain relations between Tel Aviv and Washington, given their differing views on the Israeli presence in Lebanon.
