Israeli troops take a break as they prepare to invade southern Lebanon, in Rosh HaNikra, northern Israel bordering Lebanon, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Credit: Jalaa Marey/AFP)
After announcing “operational control” of the Ali Taher hill, the Israeli army is reportedly preparing to scale back its forces in southern Lebanon and shrink its occupied “buffer zone,” according to several Israeli security officials quoted Saturday by Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11.
The officials said the army and political authorities are discussing a new zone “closer to the border,” which would follow a “gray line” extending about three to four kilometers from the Blue Line. The current “yellow line” extends across southern Lebanon eight to 10 kilometers from the border. The Israeli army has built military positions throughout the zone and deployed troops there.
Reduction of forces in Lebanon after 'sensitive days'?
A smaller “buffer zone” would ultimately mean the Israeli army will reduce its troops in Lebanon, Kan 11 reported. The army is still developing the plan, which requires approval from Israel’s political leadership.
Before potentially implementing the plan, however, the army is preparing for what Israeli media described as “sensitive days” on the Lebanese front. Kan 11 said the period would follow the completion of operations in the Ali Taher tunnels and could bring “a possible response from Hezbollah, or even Iran.”
The current buffer zone covers about 620 square kilometers. Across the occupied area, which stretches from the Nabatieh district to north of the Litani River, the Israeli army continues to carry out demolitions despite the cease-fire that has been in effect since mid-June.
The Israeli army announced late Thursday that it had seized the strategically important Ali Taher hill, which overlooks the Nabatieh region, as well as the Iqlim al-Tuffah and Jezzine areas farther north and the northern Galilee. Hezbollah has not yet commented on the announcement.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the capture would allow Israel to “finalize” its military deployment in the buffer zone.
The announcement came as negotiations, which had stalled since early August, appeared to gain momentum after Israel released five people it had detained in southern Lebanon between Thursday and Friday.
The June 26 framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel calls for Israel to gradually withdraw its forces from the occupied zone as the Lebanese Army deploys there and disarms Hezbollah.
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