'Netanyahu Standing Firm...': Israel Ready To Defy US Pressure Over Lebanon After Iran Deal
'Netanyahu Standing Firm...': Israel Ready To Defy US Pressure Over Lebanon After Iran Deal Published By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 11:52 IST Senior Israeli
'Netanyahu Standing Firm...': Israel Ready To Defy US Pressure Over Lebanon After Iran Deal Published By, Last Updated: June 15, 2026, 11:52 IST Senior Israeli officials told the news outlet that any demand affecting Israel's freedom to operate against Hezbollah would be viewed as a red line. US President Donald Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US-Israel-Iran War: Israel could face a diplomatic confrontation with the United States if Washington presses for Israeli troop withdrawals or restrictions on military operations in Lebanon as part of the emerging US-Iran agreement, Ynet reported, citing two officials familiar with the matter. Senior Israeli officials told the news outlet that any demand affecting Israel’s freedom to operate against Hezbollah would be viewed as a red line. “Right now, the prime minister is standing firm and succeeding in pushing back such Iranian demands," one senior official was quoted as saying. The official added that US officials understood Israel’s position on the issue.
According to the report, discussions within Israel’s Security Cabinet indicated broad support for maintaining military freedom of action in Lebanon, even if doing so leads to disagreements with Washington. Additionally, as per the report, Israel has made clear that it will not accept any agreement that restricts its military operations in Lebanon. As per officials, Netanyahu told Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by any Lebanon-related clause in the emerging agreement and will continue to act against Hezbollah as it sees necessary. Meanwhile, Netanyhu has ought urgent meeting with Trump after the latter returns from the G7 Summit, according to an Israeli source cited by CNN, as Israel looks to convey its concerns over the evolving negotiations involving Iran and the regional security landscape. The Israeli source was quoted as saying that Netanyahu wants to “clarify and communicate Israel’s positions in the negotiations" during the proposed meeting. According to the report, a key focus of the discussions will be Israel’s role in ongoing operations in Lebanon, where hostilities involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement remain a major point of contention despite diplomatic efforts to secure a wider ceasefire.
The request comes at a sensitive moment, with Washington and Tehran having announced an initial agreement aimed at ending months of conflict and reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The deal has generated unease in Israel, which was not directly involved in the negotiations and has expressed concerns about the implications for its security interests. The issue has gained prominence after the United States and Iran announced a peace agreement aimed at ending months of conflict across the region, including military operations in Lebanon. The deal is expected to be formally signed later this week. Israeli officials have repeatedly argued that operations against Hezbollah are essential to national security and have maintained that any future arrangement must preserve Israel’s ability to respond to threats along its northern border. Similar positions have been reflected in previous discussions with Washington, where Israel has sought guarantees for continued operational freedom against Hezbollah. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news.
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