Is Israel's Buffer Zone in Lebanon Targeting Gas Fields?

Israel's establishment of a 'security buffer zone' in southern Lebanon, extending into the Mediterranean Sea, is raising concerns among experts. They argue this move aims to seize Lebanese waters, which hold potential oil and gas reserves.

The 'buffer zone' map, released by the Israeli military's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee on April 19, days after the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, extends roughly 10 km north of the Israel-Lebanon border, covering about 6% of Lebanese territory. Israel claims it needs this zone to prevent attacks from Hezbollah militants.

However, Israeli strikes have since gone far beyond the 'Blue Line,' stoking fears of ambitions to expand into Lebanese waters. Israel has killed nearly 3,700 people in Lebanon, violating the April ceasefire. This follows the US-Israel war on Iran spilling into Lebanon after Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel in March.

A US-brokered October ceasefire in the Gaza Strip created a similar Israeli buffer zone, where Israel now occupies over 60% of the territory.

Is the buffer zone targeting Lebanon's gas?

Experts say the new buffer zone not only violates the ceasefire agreement but also absorbs Lebanon's Qana gas project. Mining rights in the area were secured for Lebanon under a 2022 US-mediated maritime demarcation agreement with Israel.

Israel's new demarcation line encroaches into Lebanon's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), encompassing Blocks 9 and 8 of the Qana gas field. In January, TotalEnergies (France), Eni (Italy), and QatarEnergy signed exploration licenses with the Lebanese government for Block 8.

Reports of Lebanon's offshore gas potential have existed since the early 1990s, but extraction has faced difficulties. According to oil and gas expert Laury Haytayan, Lebanon has 10 offshore blocks, but only Block 8 has an exploitation contract. Previous exploration in Blocks 4 and 9 was unsuccessful, and Lebanon has no proven gas reserves.

Violating the 2022 maritime agreement?

The 2022 US-brokered maritime demarcation agreement set clear boundaries between Israel and Lebanon. Maritime lawyer Aref Fakhry calls it 'a binding treaty between the two countries.' He argues Israel's expansion into Lebanon's EEZ is 'a blatant land grab' and violates international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The area Israel includes in the 'buffer zone' encompasses Lebanon's 12-nautical-mile territorial sea.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Energy Minister Joe Saddi insists Israel's buffer zone map does not alter the legal validity of the maritime demarcation agreement.

What can Lebanon do?

Experts suggest Lebanon could call on the US to apply diplomatic pressure on Israel, or invoke international conventions such as the 1958 Convention on the Territorial Sea and UNCLOS. Lebanon could also seek UN Security Council intervention or use the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean. Haytayan emphasizes that any Israeli or international company activity within Lebanon's EEZ is illegal, making it difficult for international oil companies to engage.

Comparison with Gaza

Analysts draw parallels between Israel's actions in Lebanon and Gaza. In Gaza, Israel has destroyed most of the fishing fleet and imposed severe restrictions. The Gaza Marine gas field, discovered in 2000, remains unexploited due to Israeli obstruction. Haytayan says Israel is pressuring Lebanon to gain leverage in resource negotiations.

Researchers also compare environmental devastation in Gaza and southern Lebanon, including the use of white phosphorus, dubbing it 'ecocide.' Researcher Ahmed Baydoun notes Israel has a strategy of developing buffer zones by destroying villages and issuing evacuation warnings, questioning how far these incursions will go.