AMMAN — Israel’s military said on Saturday that it had established a new “Yellow Line” in southern Lebanon, in a move that could reshape realities on the ground only days after a ceasefire halted six weeks of war with Hizbollah.

 

The army said in a statement, cited by AFP, that the line serves as a forward security boundary separating areas near Israeli forces from zones further north.

 

It is the first time Israel has publicly referred to such a demarcation inside Lebanon. The military compared the arrangement with a line used in Gaza after the October ceasefire, where areas were divided between Israeli-controlled zones and Hamas-held territory.

 

Israeli forces carried out demolition operations in the southern town of Bint Jbeil, according to Lebanese state media. The report said houses were blown up in the town and in other border areas where Israeli troops remain deployed.

 

Political analyst Amer Sabaileh said that the “Yellow Line” move was expected and reflects Israel’s broader effort to redraw security frontiers along neighbouring fronts.

 

“Israel believes adjacent fronts must be reshaped from a security perspective,” he said.

 

He added that the same approach now appears to be applied in Lebanon.

 

“Until Israel reaches what it sees as the full removal of the Hizbollah threat and the disarmament of the group, it is likely to maintain buffer zones in bordering areas,” he said.

 

For some observers, the the Israeli buffer zone plan for Lebanon is just a cover for another occupation of the country, but this time in replication of the Gaza scheme.

 

Gaza has been split by a "Yellow Line” since the ceasefire came into effect in October last year.

 

Israel's defence minister has said a buffer zone will be set up inside southern Lebanon and that Israel will keep security control over a swathe of the territory even after the end of the war against Hizbollah.

 

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has recently said that the area to be occupied would go up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon - about 30km from the border with Israel.

 

He also said all houses in Lebanese villages near the Israeli border would be demolished.

 

Lebanon's Defence Minister Maj Gen Michel Menassa said Katz's remarks reflected "a clear intention to impose a new occupation of Lebanese territory.”

 

Bint Jbeil, around five kilometres north of the Israeli border, was the scene of intense fighting before the truce took effect on Thursday.

 

A French soldier was also killed and three others wounded in an attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, in an incident French President Emmanuel Macron said appeared to have been carried out by Hizbollah.

 

The developments come only days after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire aimed at opening talks to end the conflict.

 

The war triggered heavy Israeli air strikes across Lebanon and a ground offensive in the south.

 

Lebanese authorities say nearly 2,300 people have been killed since fighting began on March 2.

 

Large parts of southern towns, including Nabatiyeh, also suffered extensive destruction.

 

Hizbollah said it had halted military operations after the ceasefire took effect, but warned it remained ready to respond to any Israeli violation.

 

The latest Israeli moves are likely to complicate efforts to stabilise the truce and launch negotiations.

 

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said direct talks with Israel are crucial to consolidating the ceasefire and securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied southern areas.

 

Hizbollah has rejected planned negotiations and remains opposed to direct engagement with Israel.

 

US President Donald Trump said Washington had stopped Israel from carrying out further strikes in Lebanon after the ceasefire agreement.

 

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, said Israel had not yet “finished the job” against Hizbollah and would continue efforts to take apart the group.