Middle East peace talks: Will new buffer zone plan work this time?

After more than a year of intense conflict‚ Israel and Hezbollah are close to reaching a cease-fire agreement‚ The proposed deal includes Lebanese army deployment in southern regions

The warʼs toll has been severe: almost 4‚000 Lebanese casualties (including Hezbollah fighters) and over 100 Israeli deaths. Around 60k Israelis and 1.2m Lebanese left their homes due to fighting

Before the conflict Hezbollah had impressive resources; including 150k rockets and missiles plus 50k fighters (both full-time and reserve). Their Iranian-trained forces were battle-tested in Syria However Israeli operations hit them hard: destroying half their weapons destroying communication systems and eliminating key leaders

• Thousands of pagers walkie-talkies and laptops destroyed
• Senior leadership targeted including Hassan Nasrallah
• Multiple tunnels and border positions eliminated
• Significant damage to rocket arsenal

Iranʼs role remains crucial as theyʼll likely try to help Hezbollah rebuild. Russia might get involved too – theyʼve worked together in Syria about 3 years ago and some Russian weapons were found in Hezbollahʼs possession

The cease-fireʼs success depends on Lebanese Armed Forces acting as a buffer; but theres uncertainty about their effectiveness since theyʼre weaker than Hezbollah. Israeli officials dont fully trust this arrangement based on past experiences

Getting displaced people back home will take time. Both sides need proof that its safe to return – especially after last years security failures. The situation remains complex; with Israel likely to continue monitoring Hezbollahʼs activities even during cease-fire