Haaretz newspaper quoted the Israeli army as making statements about the situation in southern Lebanon, stressing that the dismantling of Hezbollah's weapons will only be achieved through internal Lebanese efforts, and that the complete occupation of Lebanese territory is not a goal of war. The newspaper explained that the buffer zone project in southern Lebanon will not include the establishment of military headquarters or army points, and most of the buffer zone will be evacuated of residents to reduce the chances of friction. The army stressed that it cannot be certain that Hezbollah fighters will not return to the towns of the buffer zone, and it is still unclear whether all the homes in these villages will be demolished. Haaretz also denied the existence of a link between any possible ceasefire in Iran and the cessation of the war in Lebanon, explaining that operations may continue even after any regional developments.