Israel Plans Permanent Buffer Zones in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria With Focus on Golan Heights, Officials Say

Israel has announced plans to maintain a permanent presence in buffer zones across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. This marks a shift in Israeli policy, particularly in Syria, where the focus has moved from broad intervention purportedly to defend the Druze minority to establishing a defensive buffer zone along the border near the occupied Golan Heights. Israeli officials, including the Foreign Minister and Defense Minister, have indicated that these occupations are intended to secure Israel's borders, though critics argue this represents an expansion of Israeli control and a potential for ongoing conflict on multiple fronts. The situation on the ground in southwest Syria reflects this new reality, with local residents and security forces preparing for continued tensions.