NYT: US intelligence warns Israel may continue strikes on Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is likely to continue military operations against Hezbollah despite a cease-fire understanding between the United States and Iran that calls for a halt to fighting in Lebanon, according to a recent U.S. intelligence assessment by The New York Times.

The report suggests that Netanyahu is facing significant domestic pressure to maintain military action in response to ongoing attacks on northern Israel attributed to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese militant and political group.

Israeli officials consider Hezbollah a major security threat and believe its cross-border attacks cannot go unanswered.

According to U.S. intelligence assessments, Israel is expected to continue operations even if they complicate broader negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear program and establishing a more comprehensive regional settlement.

American officials said the cease-fire arrangement is also viewed as politically sensitive within Israel, where critics argue it does not sufficiently address Iran’s missile capabilities and imposes restrictions on Israeli military operations in Lebanon, as well as conditions related to U.S. force presence in the region.

The cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah was reached on June 19, but its durability remains uncertain amid continuing regional tensions and overlapping diplomatic negotiations.

By Sabina Mammadli