Israel prepares next move in war with Hezbollah: Army confirms it is considering destroying Lebanese towns

An Israeli army official said the country is considering destroying civilian infrastructure in Lebanese towns within 2 to 3 kilometers of the border to create a buffer zone, CNN reported.

According to the official, this is just one of the proposals the military is considering as it continues its war with Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned Shiite militia operating out of southern Lebanon.

To come to fruition, the proposal must receive the green light from Israel's political leadership, which has already signaled a preference for large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure to establish a buffer zone, along the lines of actions against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“Homes in Lebanese villages near the border, which effectively serve as Hezbollah outposts, will be demolished along the lines of Rafah and Khan Younis in Gaza to eliminate the threat to Israeli communities,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday.

Large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure without a clear military necessity is considered a violation of international law.

Israeli positions up to 10 kilometers from the border

Israeli officials have provided updates on their plans in Lebanon, and many scenarios include pushing deeper into the south of the neighboring country, they say, to neutralize the threat of a Hezbollah invasion.

Another Israeli military official previously told CNN that the army is currently occupying positions within 10 kilometers of the border between the two countries.

In Lebanon, according to Unicef ​​USA data, the war has so far displaced more than 1.1 million people, representing 20% ​​of the country's population. More than 390,000 children are among the displaced. Lebanon's health ministry says the Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,300 people and injured several thousand others.

In a press conference with foreign journalists on Friday, the Israeli military spokesman suggested that it would be several days before the military could say it had established “relevant defensive lines to prevent direct fire on communities in northern Israel.”

“We are committed to the long-term goal of disarming Hezbollah. There is also a short-term goal right now of moving threats,” he added.