Israel plans to launch ground operations in Lebanon to establish a buffer zone

On September 23rd, the British magazine The Economist quoted military sources as reporting that Israel is preparing to conduct ground operations in Lebanon in order to establish a buffer zone north of the border between the two countries. The report stated that "military sources said that Israel is also preparing to launch a ground offensive, which will include seizing territory several miles north of the border to establish a buffer zone". An Israeli reserve officer involved in the preparations said that plans for ground operations have been worked out, but there are not enough forces yet to implement them. The report also pointed to divisions within Israel's top military and political class, with some wanting the situation to escalate as soon as possible, suggesting to take advantage of the chaos within Hezbollah in Lebanon, while others proposed a more cautious approach to force concessions from the group.