Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Israel announced plans to seize parts of southern Lebanon to form a “defensive buffer zone”, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue pounding Iran.
The statement dimmed hopes of de-escalation, although US President Donald Trump previously said the opportunity to reach an agreement to end the conflict was still open.
In a meeting with the military chief of staff, as quoted from The GuardianThursday (26/3/2026), Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli troops would “control the remaining bridges and the security zone up to the Litani”, referring to the Litani River which empties into the Mediterranean Sea about 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border.
Katz’s comments indicate Israel’s military presence could last a long time. Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah called the move an “existential threat” to the Lebanese state.
Katz added that all bridges over the Litani River, which he said Hezbollah used to move personnel and weapons to southern Lebanon, “have been blown up and the IDF will control the remaining bridges”.
A day earlier, Israel’s right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel should “exercise sovereignty” in Lebanon’s southern region, a statement seen as reflecting an expansionist vision and sparking concern at home and abroad.
The situation became more complicated when the Lebanese government expelled the Iranian ambassador, Mohammad Reza Shibani, by declaring him persona non grata and ordering him to leave the country by Sunday. The unprecedented move reflects a shift away from decades of Iranian influence.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam urged Hezbollah to stop attacks on Israel, saying that retaliating against Iran’s leadership “has nothing to do with us”. Hezbollah also criticized the decision as serving Israel and deepening divisions, amid fears of a new internal conflict in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Lebanon was increasingly drawn into regional conflict with Iran when Israel bombarded the country and fought against Hezbollah in the south.
At the same time, a new wave of Israeli air strikes hit Iran after Netanyahu confirmed he would continue military action against Tehran.
“There is much more to come,” Netanyahu said, echoing the view of three Israeli officials who said it was unlikely Iran would accept US demands in a new round of negotiations.
On the other hand, in a statement Tuesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would launch massive missile and drone attacks against Israeli forces in northern Israel and the region near Gaza “without restraint” if Israel does not stop attacks in Lebanon and Palestine.
(luc/luc)
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