Israel fears US-Iran deal may curb action against Hezbollah in Lebanon — report

Senior Israeli officials are concerned that the emerging US-Iran agreement could severely restrict Israel’s freedom of action against Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to a report by Channel 12.

The report says the proposed deal would reportedly bring a complete end to the fighting in Lebanon alongside the end of the US-Iran war, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to raise concerns in a phone call with US President Donald Trump yesterday.

According to Channel 12, Netanyahu focused his efforts on maintaining Israeli operational freedom in Lebanon, later claiming in a statement by a senior official that Trump agreed Israel would “preserve its freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon.”

A senior American official cited by the network reportedly says that, as part of the proposed agreement, if Hezbollah attempts to attack Israel or rearm, Israel would be able to defend itself, but that if Hezbollah adheres to the ceasefire, Israel will have to as well.

The report also says that Netanyahu told Trump he believes the Iranian supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may ultimately reject the agreement.

A senior US official tells the network that Netanyahu had been updated throughout the negotiations and expressed concerns about “different aspects of the agreement,” but ultimately “accepted the matter with resignation.”