US intelligence warns Israel could derail Iran peace deal
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Getty Images)
Israel appears intent on continuing military operations against the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite warnings from US intelligence to President Donald Trump. Doing so would contradict a key element of the newly reached agreement calling for an end to hostilities in the country, officials said, according to The Washington Post.
According to US intelligence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to take steps that could undermine Trump's efforts. Facing intense political pressure ahead of the fall elections, the Israeli leader reportedly intends to continue military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The intelligence report states that Netanyahu's political survival depends on demonstrating strength to the Israeli public. According to one official familiar with the document, "any suspension of hostilities or withdrawal from Lebanon will be seen in Israel as a defeat for Netanyahu."
The US intelligence report also describes Israel's frustration with the terms of Trump's peace memorandum, which officials say undermine its broader objective of maintaining maximum pressure on Tehran, according to one current and one former official.
What preceded the news
Iran restricted the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz despite signing an agreement with the United States. The move came after Israel carried out a series of strikes on Lebanon in response to a Hezbollah attack that killed four soldiers, despite the US-Iran memorandum calling for an end to the conflict on all fronts.
It later emerged that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire following the escalation in Lebanon. The new agreement was reached through mediation by the United States and Qatar after negotiations involving Israel and Iran.
