Israel releases new occupation map of Lebanon despite Iran deal
Israel announced its intention to continue military operations in Lebanon despite an agreement between the US and Iran aimed at ending the conflict. Israel has expanded its “security zone” in Lebanon and stated that its soldiers will persist in removing threats and defending northern residents. This escalation stems from ongoing tensions following a series of retaliatory strikes between Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah, with iran and its proxy Hezbollah engaging in missile attacks on Israel. despite efforts at ceasefires,hostilities continue,with Israel rejecting calls to withdraw from Lebanon and insisting on its right to respond to attacks. The conflict is linked to broader US-Iran negotiations for a potential long-term peace deal, which could be destabilized by Israel’s military actions in Lebanon.Former US President Trump urged Israel to limit its military activities against Hezbollah, suggesting Syria should handle the threat instead. Israeli leaders have refused to support the US-Iran peace agreement, emphasizing their goal to dismantle Hezbollah. The situation reflects deep regional tensions, with Israel maintaining a firm stance amidst international diplomatic efforts.
Israel on Thursday said it would continue military operations in Lebanon, despite the agreement between the United States and Iran that pledged to terminate the conflict.
Israel released a new map of its footprint in Lebanon, showing it has slightly expanded its “security zone” in the country by a few miles. Israel’s military said that “IDF soldiers will continue to remove threats and strengthen the defense of Israel’s northern residents,” in a statement.
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The development comes after the U.S. and Iran formally signed an interim agreement on Wednesday aimed at resolving their war and hashing out a long-term peace deal over a 60-day period. Israel’s operation against Iran-backed Lebanese terrorists could destabilize that agreement, as the first paragraph of the 14-point “memorandum of understanding” calls for “ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon,” which borders Israel.
Israel’s latest conflict in Lebanon is rooted in the joint U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that began on Feb. 28. Iran responded that day with strikes on Israel. Days later, Hezbollah joined Iran in launching retaliatory missile strikes on Israel on March 2. The Iranian-backed terrorist group cited Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death and “repeated Israeli aggressions” as the cause for the strikes, which marked the first time in over a year that the terrorist group had claimed an attack on Israel.
In response to Hezbollah’s rocket fire, Israel launched strikes targeting terrorists operating in Lebanon, including in Beirut, the country’s capital. There have been attempts at ceasefires, particularly as Iran has threatened to pull out of any peace deal if Israel’s operations in Lebanon continue. But those efforts have repeatedly failed, as Hezbollah has continued to attack Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been insistent on the country’s right to respond to such attacks.
Trump has urged Israel to dial back military activity against Hezbollah, due partly to fears it could upend his deal with Iran. Two Israeli officials told Reuters on Wednesday that Israel would not back down on its position that its troops would remain deployed in Lebanon, and revealed they are holding “stubborn” talks with the U.S. over maintaining the troop deployment in southern Lebanon.
Trump argued this week that neighboring Syria should combat Hezbollah in Lebanon instead of Israel, citing an unspecified number of civilian casualties killed in airstrikes.
“To be honest with you, I think they’d do a better job of doing it,” the president said. “If Israel can’t do the job without killing everyone else, Syria will do the job.”
Israel clapped back against demands it withdraw from Lebanon, calling Trump’s position “a resounding slap in the face.”
“The expectation that Israel will not strike anywhere in Lebanon does not align with the narrative of a strategic ally,” an Israeli official said earlier this week.
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