Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Israel has announced plans to seize parts of southern Lebanon to establish a “defensive buffer zone,” as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue strikes against Iran.
The declarations have dampened hopes for de-escalation, despite previous suggestions from U.S. President Donald Trump that a deal to end the conflict remained possible.
According to The Guardian, during a meeting with military chiefs on Thursday, March 26, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani River,” referring to the Litani River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea approximately 20 miles north of the Israeli border.
Katz’s comments suggest a potentially prolonged Israeli military presence in the area. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group, has labeled the move an “existential threat” to Lebanon.
Katz added that all bridges over the Litani River – which he claims have been used by Hezbollah to transport personnel and weapons into southern Lebanon – “have been blown up and the IDF will control the remaining bridges.”
The previous day, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should “apply sovereignty” to areas in southern Lebanon, a statement signaling expansionist ambitions that have raised concerns both domestically and internationally.
In a related development, Lebanon expelled Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani, declaring him persona non grata and ordering him to exit the country by Sunday. This unprecedented move reflects a shift away from decades of Iranian influence in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged Hezbollah to halt attacks against Israel, stating that retaliating for Iranian leadership was “none of our business.” Hezbollah condemned the decision as serving Israel and deepening divisions, amid fears of renewed internal conflict within Lebanon.
Lebanon is becoming increasingly entangled in the regional conflict involving Iran as Israel continues to bombard the country and clash with Hezbollah in the south.
Simultaneously, a modern wave of Israeli airstrikes hit Iran after Netanyahu affirmed his commitment to continuing military action against Tehran.
“There is much more to come,” Netanyahu said, echoing the views of three Israeli officials who assess that Iran is unlikely to accept U.S. Demands in a new round of negotiations.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran said it would launch a massive missile and drone attack against Israeli forces in northern Israel and areas near Gaza “without restraint” if Israel does not halt its attacks in Lebanon and Palestine.
The escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, coupled with continued Israeli strikes on Iran, are raising the risk of a wider regional conflict. The potential for a prolonged Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation, and could further destabilize the region.
