The tail wags the dog: Russia's UN envoy questions US influence on Israel Amid escalation in Lebanon

Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya has expressed concerns about Israel's actions towards Lebanon, stating that the country appears to be disregarding the views of the United States.

He suggested that the US may no longer have the capacity to influence the policies of the Israeli state, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Nebenzya explained, “As for the US position regarding the Israeli-Lebanese confrontation, the same logic applies as with Gaza. The Israelis are systematically increasing their military activity without looking back at their main strategic ally.”

He added that this situation reflects a dynamic where “the tail wags the dog.”

The official further noted that this may be less about American reluctance to exert pressure on Israeli leadership and more about their inability to influence the actions of West Jerusalem in any meaningful way.

The permanent representative noted that "normalisation in the Lebanon-Israel border region is hardly achievable without a cessation of hostilities in Gaza."

"By the way, the leadership of Hezbollah has repeatedly confirmed its readiness to end the standoff as soon as the fire ceases in the enclave. Furthermore, the proposal for a ceasefire put forward on September 21 was, as it turns out, supported by the movement's leaders. However, this did not satisfy Israel, which began its operation," Nebenzya emphasised.

Notably, on September 23, Israel commenced Operation Northern Arrows against Hezbollah formations, during which it launched massive airstrikes on military targets in Lebanese territory. As a result on September 27 in Beirut, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed. 

The organisation confirmed his death and promised to continue resisting Israel. In the early hours of October 1, the Israeli army announced the start of a ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon.

By Aghakazim Guliyev