Netanyahu says Israel to seize more Lebanese lands and expand 'buffer zone'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the military will seize additional territory in southern Lebanon and expand the so-called “buffer zone”.

In a video statement on Sunday, Netanyahu said the move was intended to “definitively thwart the [Hezbollah] invasion threat” and push anti-tank missile fire away from northern Israel.

"We are determined to fundamentally change the situation in the north," he said during a visit to the Northern Command, adding that Israel would act with “strength, determination and responsibility” to restore security.

Netanyahu also said Israel aimed to “change the face of the Middle East”, citing assaults in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon, as well as its ongoing war alongside the United States against Iran.

"Iran is not the same Iran, Hezbollah is not the same Hezbollah, and Hamas is not the same Hamas," he said, claiming there were “visible cracks” in Tehran’s leadership. He added that Israel was engaged in a “multi-arena campaign”, striking Iran and its regional allies.

Despite highlighting recent military gains, Netanyahu warned that Hezbollah retains the capability to carry out further attacks.

His remarks come as Israel signals plans for a broader ground assault in Lebanon, particularly south of the Litani River, around 30km north of the boundary and a key link to the rest of the country. 

Israeli strikes across Lebanon since early March have killed more than 1,200 people, including over 100 children and more than 50 first responders and medical staff, according to the health ministry. At least 3,500 others have been wounded.

The bombardment has severely damaged Lebanon's infrastructure. The World Health Organization says at least 50 primary healthcare centres and five hospitals have been forced to close, while several others have been damaged.

The Israeli assault, particularly in the south, has displaced more than 1.2 million people, including around 136,000 sheltering in displacement centres.