Israel’s military is preparing to present a proposal to political leaders to establish a “security zone” inside southern Lebanon, a move that would involve demolishing border-area villages and setting up Israeli army positions several kilometers into Lebanese territory.

According to the Israeli army, the plan—currently being finalized in coordination with legal authorities—will soon be submitted for government approval. It envisions clearing a strip of land a few kilometers deep along the border, removing Hezbollah infrastructure and creating forward military outposts.

Under the proposal, most villages in the designated area would be razed, with the exception of several Christian communities, officials said.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has stated that the army would destroy all buildings in the first line of villages and prevent civilians from returning south of the Litani River until the Hezbollah threat is eliminated.

The military said many of the targeted areas were largely cleared during a ground offensive in late 2024. However, troops continue to uncover weapons caches and Hezbollah infrastructure, some of which predate the war, while other elements were reportedly established during the 2024–2026 ceasefire.

Israeli officials said the aim is to significantly weaken Hezbollah and reduce the threat to northern Israeli communities, though they acknowledged that fully disarming the group is not feasible. Most rocket launches, they said, originate north of the Litani River, meaning short-range projectiles—of which Hezbollah is believed to possess thousands—are now largely directed at Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon rather than civilian areas.

Military officials added that Hezbollah is “deeply troubled” by Israel’s plan to continue its offensive even after the conflict with Iran ends. While the war involving Iran remains Israel’s primary focus, Lebanon is considered a secondary front. Should a ceasefire with Iran be reached, the army is expected to shift much of its attention to southern Lebanon.

Israeli media cited military officials as acknowledging that disarming Hezbollah would require occupying all of Lebanon, which they say is beyond Israel’s capability. Only the Lebanese State could fully disarm the group, the officials believe.

The planned security zone would extend 2–3 kilometers from the Israeli border. No permanent military outposts are expected to be built within the zone, and most civilians would be evacuated to reduce friction between troops and local residents. Officials stressed that a ceasefire in Iran should not affect operations in Lebanon, which are expected to continue to ensure Hezbollah operatives do not return to the villages within the security zone.

The military estimates that Hezbollah still possesses several thousand rockets, mostly short-range. While few operatives have been observed in the villages closest to the border, weapons and infrastructure linked to the group have been found, some dating back before the 2023–2026 conflict in Lebanon and others indicating efforts by Hezbollah to rebuild.