A prominent Israeli commentator argues that recent deadly incidents prove Iran is pushing the boundaries with the Trump administration's acquiescence, and calls on the prime minister to tie any IDF withdrawal from Lebanon to the removal of an Iran-operated Shia militia force composed of Syrian and Iraqi fighters.
Ariel Kahana (Israel Hayom) published an opinion piece Friday evening arguing that the recent deadly incidents in Lebanon prove Iran is dictating the pace of conflict and using the Trump administration's diplomatic framework to expand its influence.
Kahana asserts that Israel has suffered 22 casualties since the ceasefire, five of them this week alone, while the U.S. justified holding back on a full campaign against Iran because only 13 American service members were killed. He urges Prime Minister Netanyahu to tell President Trump clearly: Israel will withdraw from Lebanon and halt operations only if Iran removes the 'Imam Hussein Brigade' — a Syrian and Iraqi Shia militia operating under Iranian command — from southern Lebanon. Until then, Kahana says, the IDF must retain a full freedom of action without restrictions.
The piece also calls on the Israeli opposition to publicly back such a demand, arguing that national unity enhances Israel's standing in Washington.
Earlier Wednesday, as The Zioneer reported, Netanyahu told Trump that ongoing IDF airstrikes in southern Lebanon were causing 'light casualties' and expected Hezbollah not to respond. The U.S. president has repeatedly urged restraint and pushed for a negotiated withdrawal, while Israel insists it is not bound by the Lebanon clause in the emerging U.S.-Iran deal.
2 developments
- DevelopingIran exerting 'atomic' pressure on Netanyahu to end Lebanon war, pull out IDF
- DevelopingTrump presses Netanyahu to withdraw from Lebanon by Friday
- DevelopingCommentator urges Netanyahu to tell Trump Israel will withdraw from Lebanon 'at the right time'
- StrongCommentator argues against immediate Lebanon withdrawal, calls for political initiative
Source and signal
- Internal intake