Internal debate over war objectives: Israeli army revises Lebanon strategy

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi

The Israeli army has proposed a revised set of objectives for its operations in Lebanon, limiting the goal of disarming Hezbollah to areas south of the Litani River, rather than across the entire country.

The proposal, put forward on Friday, triggered sharp disagreements with Israel's political leadership, leading to the postponement of a scheduled cabinet meeting to Saturday evening to discuss a new military plan that, according to an Israeli military official, would significantly reshape South Lebanon.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz was among those who opposed the plan.

Under the alternative approach, the army would focus on the large-scale destruction of villages in South Lebanon and the forced displacement of their citizens, to establish a buffer zone inside Lebanese territory.

An Israeli military official said the proposed "new reality" would prevent civilians from returning and effectively redraw boundaries, drawing comparisons to the so-called "yellow line" established in the Gaza Strip, though with a more dynamic and mobile model without deeply entrenched positions.

As part of the revised strategy, the army is also seeking to adjust its timeline by concentrating its deployment along an anti-tank defense line located at least 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory.

Separately, the commander of the Israeli Air Force decided, following visits to northern Israel and meetings with regional commanders, to reposition Iron Dome batteries closer to advancing ground forces in South Lebanon. The move comes after assessments showed that most Hezbollah fire has been directed at Israeli troops operating inside Lebanese territory.

In an internal report aimed at convincing decision-makers, the Israeli army highlighted what it described as growing challenges posed by Hezbollah, including the use of explosive drones targeting soldiers on the ground.

The report also estimated that Hezbollah possesses at least 10,000 rockets and could sustain its current rate of fire for at least two months, underscoring the potential for a prolonged conflict.