The Israeli defense establishment believes the best way to separate Iran from Hezbollah is to rapidly advance the US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, according to Israel Hayom correspondent Lilach Shoval. Behind closed doors, defense officials have voiced frustration that the process has not moved faster in recent weeks.
The Israeli security establishment has told the political echelon that accelerating the US-mediated talks with Lebanon is the most effective way to sever the connection between Iran and Hezbollah, Israel Hayom national security correspondent Lilach Shoval reported Tuesday evening. Defense sources expressed frustration in closed-door conversations that the process has not advanced faster in recent weeks.
This push comes as the diplomatic track on the northern front enters what appears to be its most intensive phase yet. As The Zioneer reported earlier Tuesday, Hezbollah's deputy political council head Mahmoud Qamati told Russia Today Arabic that the emerging US-Iran agreement could open a "large door" for de-escalation in Lebanon, while listing conditions including an end to Israeli operations, full withdrawal of IDF forces from Lebanon, and release of Lebanese prisoners. The Monday report by N12's Nir Dvori that the defense establishment had told the political leadership conditions were ripe for a deal was followed by Tuesday's more detailed call from security officials to fast-track the process specifically to decouple Iran and Hezbollah, according to Shoval's report.
The defense establishment's sense of urgency is rooted in the assessment that time works against Israel's ability to disentangle the Iran-Lebanon-Hezbollah axis, according to Shoval's report. This follows The Zioneer's June 12 report that the emerging US-Iran framework is said to include demands for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and the release of Hezbollah prisoners, and analyst assessments that Iran is linking the Lebanon-Hezbollah file to broader nuclear talks with Washington. The June 15 report that Lebanese sources fear an emerging deal will entrench Hezbollah's power adds context to the internal pressures on both sides.
The details of the negotiating framework and the specific concessions under discussion remain unconfirmed by official Israeli or US sources. The precise timetable for the fast-tracked process has not been specified, and it remains unclear whether the political echelon has accepted the security establishment's assessment.
2 developments
- StrongAnalyst: Iran links Lebanon-Hezbollah file to broader US nuclear talks
- DevelopingAl-Hadath: US pressures Israel for tangible progress in Lebanon talks
- DevelopingReport: Iran-US talks include terms for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, release of Hezbollah prisoners
- DevelopingLebanese sources fear emerging deal will entrench Hezbollah's power
Source and signal
- Internal intake