Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Jul 17: Israel's renewed military deployment in southern Lebanon has reignited concerns over the risks of a prolonged occupation, with former Prime Minister Ehud Barak warning that the country could be repeating the mistakes of its 18-year presence in the region that ended in 2000.

Israel launched a fresh military operation in Lebanon in March following a series of drone and missile attacks by Hezbollah in the wake of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Since then, Israeli forces have taken control of more than 600 square kilometres in southern Lebanon and continue to maintain a military presence in what officials describe as a "security zone".

Although recent opinion polls indicate that a majority of Israelis support the deployment, Barak has cautioned that a long-term occupation could become a strategic burden rather than a security asset.

Recalling Israel's previous occupation of southern Lebanon between 1982 and 2000, Barak said the prolonged military presence had gradually shifted its focus from ensuring national security to merely protecting Israeli forces stationed in the area. He argued that the same pattern could emerge again if troops remain indefinitely.

Last month, Israel signed a framework agreement with the Lebanese government to establish pilot zones in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah's weapons and military infrastructure would be removed and security responsibilities handed over to the Lebanese Army. Israeli forces are expected to redeploy or withdraw from those areas once the process is completed.

However, Hezbollah, which was not part of the agreement, has rejected the arrangement and vowed to resist it.

Israeli authorities have maintained that troops will remain in a broader security zone until Hezbollah is fully disarmed. Defence Minister Israel Katz recently said Israel did not require permission to remain in Lebanon, describing the deployment as essential to safeguarding communities along the northern border.

Barak, however, questioned the effectiveness of such a strategy, noting that during the previous occupation, Hezbollah had continued to launch rocket attacks despite the existence of a security zone. He warned that maintaining forces in southern Lebanon could further strengthen local support for Hezbollah, particularly amid widespread destruction and displacement caused by the ongoing conflict.

According to Lebanese authorities, around one million people were displaced following the escalation in March, with nearly 40 per cent having since returned to their homes. More than 4,300 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon since the fighting resumed, while nearly 40 Israeli soldiers, along with a defence contractor and two civilians, have also lost their lives.