Israel's 'Buffer Zone' in Lebanon: A Move to Claim Offshore Gas?

Israel's military operations inside Lebanon have expanded beyond the land border into the country's maritime territory, sparking concerns that the so-called "buffer zone" might be a pretext for securing valuable offshore gas reserves. Analysts warn that the zone could evolve into a long-term "resource grab," given Lebanon's disputed gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea. The incursion has heightened tensions between the two nations, which have no formal maritime boundary agreement.